Costa Rica - Election 2014
Costa Rica is a constitutional republic governed by a president and a unicameral legislative assembly directly elected in multi-party elections every four years. On April 6, voters elected Luis Guillermo Solis of the Citizen Action Party (PAC) during a second round of elections after no presidential candidate achieved 40 percent of the votes February 2. In legislative elections the PAC, Broad Front, and Social Christian Unity Party gained seats and formed a coalition that gave them control of the legislature. The National Liberation Party gained the largest number of seats, although the party did not achieve the required majority. All elections were generally considered free and fair. Authorities maintained effective control over the security forces.
Principal human rights abuses included trafficking in persons, particularly sex trafficking of children; discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and harsh prison conditions and treatment. Other human rights concerns included rising reports of official corruption and infringements on the rights of indigenous people. The government investigated and prosecuted officials who committed abuses; however, impunity still existed.
On April 6, voters elected PAC’s Luis Guillermo Solis during a second round of elections, after no presidential candidate achieved 40 percent of the first round vote February 2. Presidential and legislative elections are simultaneous. In legislative elections the National Liberation Party gained the most seats, but three parties – the PAC, Broad Front, and Social Christian Unity Party – gained enough seats in the 57-member legislative assembly to form a coalition that gave them control of the legislature. Observers considered the elections generally free and fair. The Organization of American States team that monitored the elections for the first time noted the election process included citizens voting from abroad.
The National Liberation Party (PLN), in power since 2006, remained the largest force in the 57-member Legislative Assembly, taking 18 seats, down from 24 previously. The Citizens' Action Party (PAC) took 13. The Broad Front (FA) increased its share from one to nine seats. Costa Ricans abroad were allowed to vote for the first time in the parliamentary and presidential elections. According to the constitution, President Laura Chinchilla Miranda (PLN) could not run for a second consecutive term.
The centrist PLN pledged to reduce poverty in the country. Its presidential candidate, Johnny Araya, the former Mayor of San José, argued that Costa Rica did not want extremism, neither from the left nor the right. The Citizens' Action Party (PAC) endorsed Luis Guillermo Solís, a former PLN member. The PAC promised to alleviate inequality, improve public infrastructure and fight corruption. The FA's presidential candidate, 36-year-old José Maria Villata, was the sole FA member in the outgoing legislature. The FA promised to pay for sex-change operations under the public health system.
None of the 13 presidential candidates secured 40 per cent of the votes to be elected in the first round. Run-off elections ? the first since 2002 - are due to be held on 6 April between Solís (PAC) and Araya (PLN).
Women and persons of African descent (representing approximately 2.4 percent and 7.7 percent of the population, respectively, according to the 2011 census) were represented in government, but indigenous people were not. The electoral code requires that a minimum of 50 percent of candidates for elective office be women, with their names placed alternately with men on the ballots by party slate. There were nine women among the 21 cabinet ministers. There were 19 women in the 57-seat legislative assembly, including the vice president of the assembly and the first and second secretaries, a chief of faction, and four chairpersons of legislative committees. A woman served as chief justice of the Supreme Court. Indigenous persons did not play a significant role in politics or government and remained underrepresented. There were no indigenous members in the legislative assembly. Two Afro-Caribbean women were elected as legislators. An Afro-Caribbean woman headed the Limon Port Authority, an autonomous government institution.
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