Costa Rica Heads Towards Close Election

Peaceful Costa Rica heads to very competitive election with diverse range of candidates running | Democracy, elections, and voting at Democracy Chronicles

Costa Rica Headed For An Unpredictable Vote?/ A Look Inside The Candidates: Otto Guevara (Photos)

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Marked by widespread national dissatisfaction, after eight years of power by the Partido Liberiación Naiconal (PLN), of a party that has synonymous with corruption, cronyism and embezzlement, Costa Ricans may be looking for change on Sunday.

Otto Guevara Guth (born October 13, 1960) is a politician in Costa Rica and founder of the Partido Movimiento Libertario (Libertarian Movement Party). He served in the Costa Rican legislature from 1998-2006. Guevara is currently the president.

A Look Inside The Candidates: Jose Maria Villalta (Photos)

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José María Villalta Florez-Estrada (born August 13, 1977) is a Costa Rican attorney, environmentalist and politician. He is the only representative in the Costa Rican Parliament of the leftist party Frente Amplio (Broad Front) for 2010-2014.

From CIA Factbook:

Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country’s democratic development. In 1949, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.