Costa Rica: Elecciones en el contexto político más adverso arrojan la mayor fragmentación partidaria en 60 años

Abstract

Four main features characterize socio-political events in Costa Rica during 2013 and early 2014. First, voters cast their votes in presidential and legislative elections held under the most adverse political context since the restoration of electoral democracy in 1953. Three aspects characterize this context: popular support to the political regime is in decline, the longest period of social protests, and high instability in the cabinet. Second, Congress has ignored the recommendations offered by a Presidential Commission in democratic governability. Third, in judicial politics, overcrowded prisons became an important issue that put a lot of pressure in both the Judiciary and the Executive. Finally, the territorial conflict with Nicaragua dominates foreign affairs.