No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaCosta Rica Election video spurs angry responses

Costa Rica Election video spurs angry responses

A viral election video asking voters to reject traditional Costa Rican political parties set the Internet abuzz last week, and now the ruling party and allies are fighting back.

“Our name is Costa Rica,” was released by anonymous University of Costa Rica students. The video criticized those who have been in power for the last 30 years, condemning them for everything from growing inequality to agricultural management. The video has more than 129,000 views on YouTube.

Though the specific parties were not named in the video, the National Liberation Party (PLN) and Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) have dominated the government for more than 50 years.

On Dec. 30, three days after the first video was released, another anonymous group created a video using the same footage with a different narrator. The video, “We are also Costa Rica” touted the nation’s recent accomplishments, opening with the phrase, “Costa Ricans, proud of the Costa Rica that we already have.”

As the video continues, the narrator accuses the opposition of lacking patriotism and supporting left-leaning ideologies (at the 0:37 mark).

“They want to trick us, promising to create a Venezuelan and Nicaraguan model in Costa Rica where the poor, democracy, food and liberty all disappear,” said the video’s narrator.

The ruling PLN party did not stay quiet for long either. They put a name to the face of their rebuttal featuring Liberationist Youth member Leah Netzer. (Liberationist Youth is a group for young PLN supporters).

In the video Netzer referred to the original ad as a series of “baseless attacks” and asked the question, “Do you really believe we are worse off than we were 30 years ago?”

Since the video’s release, Netzer has been attacked in video comments and on her Facebook. Some raised questions about her citizenship. Through a search of the Supreme Elections Tribunal, The Tico Times confirmed that Netzer was born in Guatemala but is a Costa Rican citizen, legally permitted to vote. She and the rest of the constituency can exercise that right one month from today.

The presidential election is set for Feb. 2. The latest polls show ruling party candidate Johnny Araya and progressive Broad Front Party candidate José María Villalta moving toward a runoff.

Trending Now

Juanes Lands in Costa Rica to Shoot Videos for New Tracks

Colombian singer Juanes has arrived in Costa Rica, turning our country's landscapes into backdrops for his latest music videos. The artist, known for hits...

Costa Rica Pesticide Use Harms Soil Life, UNA Study Finds

Costa Rica is one of the countries that uses the most agrochemicals, which has a series of negative repercussions in various areas. A recent...

Costa Rica Faces a Must-Win for a Place in 2026 World Cup

Costa Rica's national soccer team faces a defining stretch in their bid to reach the 2026 World Cup. With just two points from their...

Costa Rica Approves Extradition of Ex-Minister Gamboa and Associates

A Costa Rican court has approved the extradition of former Security Minister Celso Gamboa Sánchez to the United States on charges of international cocaine...

Heavy Rains in Costa Rica Trigger Landslides and Floods

Costa Rica faces tough conditions lately from ongoing heavy rains that have sparked deadly landslides and major flooding over the last few days. In...

Costa Rica TSE Seeks to Lift President Chaves Immunity

Costa Rica's electoral tribunal has stepped up pressure on President Rodrigo Chaves by asking lawmakers to strip his immunity over claims of political interference...
spot_img
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