Broad Front
Partido Frente Amplio
PresidentPatricia Mora Castellanos
Secretary-GeneralWilliam Rodolfo Ulloa Bonilla
TreasurerRoberto Joaquín Alfaro Zumbado
Vice-presidentGerardo Vargas Varela
SubsecretaryGerardo Vargas Varela
SubtreasurerSuray Carrillo Guevara
FounderJosé Merino del Río
Founded16 October 2004 (2004-10-16)
HeadquartersCasa Amarilla Barrio Amón
IdeologyDemocratic socialism
Socialism of the 21st century
Progressivism
Political positionLeft-wing
Regional affiliationSão Paulo Forum
ColorsYellow
Legislative Assembly
6 / 57
Mayors
0 / 82
Alderpeople
9 / 508
Syndics
1 / 486
District councillors
18 / 1,944
Intendants
0 / 8
Party flag
Website
http://www.frenteamplio.org/

The Broad Front (Frente Amplio) is a left-wing political party in Costa Rica, the main component of the front is the Alternative of the Lefts Movement (Movimiento Alternativa de Izquierdas). They are defined by progressive, socialist and social justice ideas. The party is a member of the Foro de Sao Paulo, part of the international Latin American Left Movement (pink tide) of democratic socialism.[1]

History

In the 2006 general elections, they won 1.1% of the legislative votes, and won one seat in the legislature, occupied by José Merino del Río. In the 2010 general elections they kept their seat, occupied by José María Villalta Florez-Estrada. Their presidential nominee was Eugenio Trejos Benavides, then the rector of the Costa Rica Institute of Technology. For the 2014 election the party’s nominee was then congressman Villalta, who was receiving a lot of support according to the polls, something unusual in Costa Rica for a left-wing candidate, and even appearing in some as the frontrunner.[2] Nevertheless, lost momentum after a very negative campaign especially from right-wing party Libertarian Movement and PAC's recovery after the party's candidate Luis Guillermo Solís improved his image in the debates, attracting votes from the more moderate leftist electors.[3]

Villalta ended third in the presidential race with 17% of the votes, below PLN's nominee Johnny Araya and PAC’s Luis Guillermo Solís, but increased its parliamentary representation from one to nine seats. It also won one mayor in the 2016 municipal elections in the Barva canton and in alliance with PAC in Acosta and Montes de Oca.[4][5]

During the 2014-2018 legislative period the party suffered several minor scandals involving its deputies including Guanacaste’s representative and former Catholic priest Ronal Vargas's resignation after being accused of sexual harassment, deputy Ligia Falla’s use of her parliamentary office for alleged romantic encounters of her advisors, and domestic abuse accusations against two parties' deputies.[6]

Electoral performance

Presidential

Election Candidate First round Second round
Votes % Position Result Votes % Position Result
2010 Eugenio Trejos Benavides 6,822 0.37% 7th Lost
2014 José María Villalta Florez-Estrada 354,479 17.25% Increase 3rd Lost
2018 Edgardo Araya Sibaja 16,862 0.78% Decrease 8th Lost
2022 José María Villalta Florez-Estrada 182,789 8.73% Increase 6th Lost

Parliamentary

Election Leader Votes  % Seats +/– Position Government
2006 No presidential candidate 17,751 1.10%
1 / 57
 New 11th Opposition
2010 Eugenio Trejos Benavides 68.987 3.66%
1 / 57
 Steady 0 Increase 7th Opposition
2014 José María Villalta Florez-Estrada 221,780 13.09%
9 / 57
 Increase 8 Increase 3rd Opposition
2018 Edgardo Araya Sibaja 84,437 3.95%
1 / 57
 Decrease 8 Decrease 7th Opposition
2022 José María Villalta Florez-Estrada 172,961 8.33%
6 / 57
 Increase 5 Increase 6th Opposition

References

  1. ↑ Sanchez, Isabel. "Leftist parties gaining ground as Costa Rica and El Salvador elections near". Tico Times. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Kane, Corey. "Villalta's rise and Araya's fall could upset 50 years of political dominance in Costa Rica". Tico Times. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  3. ↑ Turner, Blair (20 August 2015). Latin America 2015-2016. ISBN 9781475818710. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Lehring, Gary. "Costa Rican legislative elections show growing voter dissatisfaction with traditional choices". Tico Times. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  5. ↑ Buckman, Robert T. (20 August 2014). Latin America 2014. ISBN 9781475812282. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "Jose María Villalta no aspirará a presidencia en 2018". www.larepublica.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 February 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.