Politics of Costa Rica - Political Parties

Political Parties

Costa Rica's current leading political parties are:

• National Liberation Party (Costa Rica) (Partido Liberación Nacional—PLN). Founded in 1951 at the end of the civil war. social democratic.
• Citizen's Action Party (Partido Acción Ciudadana -- PAC). Founded 2000 by former PLN member; strong showings in 2002 and 2006 elections (30% of Assembly in 2006). Reformist, largely but not exclusively left and center left.
• Libertarian Movement Party (Partido Movimiento Libertario -- PML). Founded 1994; won 6 Congressional seats (10% of the Assembly) in 2002 and again in 2006. Libertarian.
• Social Christian Unity Party (Partido Unidad Social Cristiana—PUSC). Currently less popular than its past, after revelations of corruption, 3 seats in the Assembly. Christian democratic.

Minor parties with 1 seat in the Assembly:

• Access without Exclusion (Partido Accessibilidad Sin Exclusión—PASE.) Fights for disabled people.
• Broad Front (Partido Frente Amplio -- FA). Left.
• National Union Party (Partido Unión Nacional -- PUN). Center right.
• National Rescue Party (Partido Rescate Nacional).

Minor parties without congressional representation as of 2009:

• Costa Rican Renovation Party (Partido Renovación Costariccense).
• Union for Change Party (Partido Unión para el Cambio).
• National Restoration Party (Partido Restauración Nacional—PRN). Christian.
• Homeland First Party (Partido Patria Primero).

Several smaller new parties that participated for the first time in the 2006 elections include Partido Unión Patriótica and Partido Alianza Democrática Nacionalista.