Politics of Costa Rica - Political Parties

Political Parties

Costa Rica's current leading political parties are:

  • National Liberation Party (Costa Rica) (Partido Liberación Nacional—PLN). Founded in 1951 at the end of the civil war. social democratic.
  • Citizen's Action Party (Partido Acción Ciudadana -- PAC). Founded 2000 by former PLN member; strong showings in 2002 and 2006 elections (30% of Assembly in 2006). Reformist, largely but not exclusively left and center left.
  • Libertarian Movement Party (Partido Movimiento Libertario -- PML). Founded 1994; won 6 Congressional seats (10% of the Assembly) in 2002 and again in 2006. Libertarian.
  • Social Christian Unity Party (Partido Unidad Social Cristiana—PUSC). Currently less popular than its past, after revelations of corruption, 3 seats in the Assembly. Christian democratic.

Minor parties with 1 seat in the Assembly:

  • Access without Exclusion (Partido Accessibilidad Sin Exclusión—PASE.) Fights for disabled people.
  • Broad Front (Partido Frente Amplio -- FA). Left.
  • National Union Party (Partido Unión Nacional -- PUN). Center right.
  • National Rescue Party (Partido Rescate Nacional).

Minor parties without congressional representation as of 2009:

  • Costa Rican Renovation Party (Partido Renovación Costariccense).
  • Union for Change Party (Partido Unión para el Cambio).
  • National Restoration Party (Partido Restauración Nacional—PRN). Christian.
  • Homeland First Party (Partido Patria Primero).

Several smaller new parties that participated for the first time in the 2006 elections include Partido Unión Patriótica and Partido Alianza Democrática Nacionalista.

Read more about this topic:  Politics Of Costa Rica

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