No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveThird-, Fourth-Ranked Parties Announce Platforms

Third-, Fourth-Ranked Parties Announce Platforms

WITH less than a month to go before the Feb. 5 presidential elections, the Libertarian Movement and Union for Change (UPC) parties – which rank third and fourth in the polls, respectively –have announced their official platforms.

 

No new taxes and ending public and private monopolies are what can be expected from a future government of Libertarian candidate Otto Guevara. UPC candidate Antonio Alvarez Desanti also says increasing taxes isn’t as important as improving government efficiency.

 

Both parties promise passage of the controversial Central American Free- Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA); increased foreign investment in Costa Rica; a mano dura (heavy hand) against crime, including increased penalties for convicted criminals; and accelerated judicial processes to clean up the criminal justice system.

 

THE Libertarians released their platform, “The Time to Act: A Contract with

the People of Costa Rica,” on Tuesday.

 

“Everything you can expect from the Libertarian Movement from 2006-2010 is here,” Guevara said, holding up the 41- page booklet containing the “contract.” Not only is Guevara committed to the document, but candidates for the Legislative Assembly and city councils nationwide will perform their duties, if elected, based on the ideas explained in it, Guevara continued.

 

These goals are based on typical campaign promises aimed at addressing the country’s greatest problems – crime, corruption, high cost of living and poverty. Some of the party’s more creative solutions to eternal problems are: revealing the faces of criminals to reduce crime; streamlining permits for small businesses, many of which work in the black market; and turning government-held public property on borders and along coasts into private property.

 

To reduce corruption, the platform suggests increasing penalties for corruption; eliminating unnecessary permits, which Guevara said create more opportunities for corruption; and decentralizing the government.

 

The Libertarian Movement was the last of the top four parties to release its platform. Guevara said that, while campaigning, they have been talking to Costa Ricans throughout the country and wanted to incorporate their concerns into the document.

 

UPC released its 102-page platform, “Toward a Secure, Unified and Governable Costa Rica,” last week. The plan is a vision for Costa Rica not only for 2006-2010, but also for the next 50 years. While a UPC government would be greatly dependent on the opportunities created by the private sector, it still has foundations in social justice, candidate Alvarez said.

 

Proposals pitched in the UPC platform, include expanding the country’s highways to four lanes, particularly those between ports and economic centers; installing more cameras on public streets and sidewalks to deter crime; improving bilingual education; guaranteeing bills are voted on in the Legislative Assembly within 180 days; and reducing controls of the Comptroller General of the Republic, which Alvarez says have caused delays in government business and not stopped corruption.

 

The plan also calls for a more electronic government to reduce requirements and lines for government permits, and sets a goal of 50% Internet coverage for the population.

 

Trending Now

Celso Gamboa Allegedly Ran Drug Ring with Costa Rican Government Ties

Celso Gamboa, once Costa Rica’s Security Minister and a Supreme Court judge, now faces extradition to the U.S. for leading a major cocaine trafficking...

Costa Rica to Launch Electric Air Taxis for Sustainable Travel in Guanacaste

Costa Rica is poised to revolutionize its transportation landscape with the introduction of electric air taxis, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional ground travel...

Costa Rica Identified as Key Maritime Route for Cocaine Trafficking

Costa Rica appears among the main maritime and aerial routes for cocaine trafficking between South and North America, according to the World Drug Report 2025 published...

Costa Rica and Panama Seek Gold Cup Glory Against North American Giants

With no Caribbean teams advancing, a Central American contingent made up of Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala heads into the quarterfinals of the...

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 Closing Event Bans Minors, Sparks Outrage

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 closing event, set for June 29 at San José’s Plaza de la Democracia, was thrown into controversy when the government...

Costa Rica’s Pride March 2025 Defies Restrictions and Celebrates Diversity

A large crowd gathered in Paseo Colón, San José, to participate in the LGBTIQ+ Pride March 2025. It began at noon, as people marched...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica