Political Community Mourns Former Diplomat, Legislator

Legislators, Cabinet ministers and other members of Costa Rica’s political community mourned the passing of Cristian Tattenbach, who died May 8 of natural causes at the age of 83.

The three-time legislator – for the National Union Party (PUN) from 1962-1966, the Unification Party from 1978-1982 and Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) from 1986-1990 – also filled a wide array of other posts during a long career in public service.

Tattenbach served as the Governance Minister for President José Joaquín Trejos (1966-1970) and Ambassador to Guatemala (1951-1953), Nicaragua (1953) and the United Nations (1990-1994), according to the Foreign Relations Ministry. Among Tattenbach’s other accomplishments were co-founding the Unity Party and serving on the first Board of Directors of the Inter-American Human Rights Institute, the daily La Nación reported.

According to a statement from the Legislative Assembly, legislators observed a minute of silence and speeches last week commemorating Tattenbach’s life.

Assembly president Francisco Antonio Pacheco, of the National Liberation Party (PLN), called him one of the preeminent political figures of the second half of the 20th century.

Legislators from a variety of other political parties also stepped up to the microphone to praise Tattenbach’s love of service, sincerity and dedication to defending the rights of farmers despite his own privileged background, the statement said.

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