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24 New Political Parties
Registered; Bringing Total to 72
The Tribunal Supremo de
Elecciones (TSE) reports that
five new political parties will
be running candidates for the
presidency in the 2006
elections.
The parties, Alianza Democrática
Nacionalista (ADN) headed for
former Justice Minister, José
Miguel Villalobos; Unión para el
Cambio (UPC) headed by Antonio
Álvarez Desanti; Unión
Patriótica (UP) formed by
Humberto Arce and José Miguel
Corrales; Patria Primero by Juan
José Vargas; and Unión Nacional
(PUN) all presented their
documentation before the 4pm
deadline yesterday.
In addition there are 19 new
parties that will be fielding
candidates for regional and
provincial positions in the
election to be held next
February, bringing the total of
political parties registered to
72.
Not all the parties are active
on a national level or even
known outside of their
community, though the number of
candidates making a bid for
elected office will make the
historic election interesting
for Costa Ricans.
The new parties will face the
mainstream parties Liberación
Nacional (PLN), Unidad Social
Cristiana (PUSC), Acción
Ciudadana (PAC).
Parties who have made a name for
themselves in the last couple of
elections are the Integración
Nacional (PIN), Renovación
Costarricense, Alianza Nacional
Cristiana, Independiente Obrero
(PIO), Movimiento Libertario,
Patriótico Nacional, Rescate
Nacional and Fuerza Democrática,
some of which will seeking the
presidential seat.
The traditional two party system
began to disappear in the 2002
election when the PAC forced a
run off vote between the PLN and
PUSC which saw president Abel
Pacheco elected, ending the
traditional two party system and
division of party as each party
would take the presidency in
alternate elections.
The new parties are now
inscribed in the official
records and we will know in the
coming months which will be
making a strong bid for the
presidency and other elected
posts.
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