A gay marriage controversy that turned Costa Rica’s presidential election on its head has pitted a Christian preacher against a ruling party candidate in an Easter Sunday runoff.

Fabricio Alvarado, a 43-year-old evangelical songwriter, led in the first round in February after he opposed a ruling by an international court that supported gay marriage in the Central American nation. He has since tried to broaden his appeal beyond his religious base by pledging to create jobs and curb the record fiscal deficit.

He’s up against Carlos Alvarado in the April 1 vote, a 38-year-old author and former rock singer who backed gay marriage, and who is also calling for spending curbs. The country received four downgrades over the last five years from the main ratings agencies and whoever wins will need to convince investors that they are serious about narrowing the deficit.