Citizens' Action Party presidential primary, 2017

Last updated
Citizens' Action Party presidential primary, 2017
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←  2013 July 9, 2017
Turnout 40.000

  Carlos Alvarado Quesada en 2015.jpg Welmer Ramos Gonzalez.jpg
Nominee Carlos Alvarado Welmer Ramos
Party Citizens' Action Citizens' Action
Popular vote18.320 14.387
Percentage56% 44%

Costa Rica resultados convencion PAC 2017.png

Most voted candidate by province:
  Ramos
  Alvarado
Previous Presidential Candidate

Luis Guillermo Solís
Citizens' Action

Presidential Candidate

Carlos Alvarado
Citizens' Action

The third primary election of the Citizens' Action Party (PAC, known as Convención Nacional Ciudadana or "Citizens' National Convention") was scheduled for July 9, 2017 in order to elect PAC's presidential candidate for the Costa Rican general election, 2018. Albeit rumors about possible candidates included former candidate and deputy Otton Solis, current Vice-President Ana Helena Chacón and former president of Congress and current UN ambassador Juan Carlos Mendoza, all of them denied having aspirations for the moment. Instead the first announcing his intention to be nominated was Minister Carlos Alvarado, former Minister of Social Issues and President of the Joint Social Welfare Institute and latter Minister of Labor under Luis Guillermo Solis' presidency. [1] He was quickly followed by Economy Minister Welmer Ramos, both resigning their offices as the Constitution requires before February 2017. [1] Congresswoman and former pre-candidate Epsy Campbell made her intentions public on March of the same year in what could have been Campbell's third attempt to be presidential nominee. [1] But on March 27 Campbell withdraw from the race. [2]

A primary election is the process by which voters, either the general public or members of a political party, can indicate their preference for a candidate in an upcoming general election or by-election, thus narrowing the field of candidates.

Citizens Action Party (Costa Rica)

The Citizens' Action Party is a center-left political party in Costa Rica.

Contents

Alvarado, a published writer and journalist, is seen as close to Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera, whilst Ramos (although also a Minister under Solís Rivera) is considered closer to the "Otttonista" faction, i.e. the more conservative faction close to the ideas of party's founder Ottón Solís. [3] Alvarado won the election by 56% of the votes over Ramos [4] who acknowledged the defeat the same night. [5]


Opinion polls

Date Source Epsy Campbell Barr Carlos Alvarado Quesada Welmer Ramos González Ottón Solís Fallas
(non participant)
December, 2016Opol Consultores [6] 75%--51%
February, 2017OPol Consultores [6] 66%37%33%44%
July, 2017OPol Consultores [7] -57,04%42,95%-

Campaign

Alvarado focus his campaign in highlight the government's achievements, whilst Ramos on the contrary distance himself from the government and even made harsh criticism to several government officials for ethical reasons. [8]

Alvarado and Ramos main difference was regarding social issues, as in economy and politics held similar views. Alvarado supports gay marriage whilst Ramos opposes. This caused controversy mostly among partisans as PAC has traditionally held culturally liberal views and policies. Whilst Alvarado took part (as in previous years) of Costa Rica's anual Gay Pride Parade, Ramos said in a radio interview that he regarded same-sex couples unnatural, yet in an official statement Ramos clarified his position saying that he respects the LGBT community and would not oppose in anyway any form of legislation that recognizes same-sex couples and would respect the Party's official position in the matter. [9]

LGBT community loosely defined grouping of LGBT and LGBT-supportive people, organizations and subcultures

The LGBT community or GLBT community, also referred to as the gay community, is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, LGBT organizations, and subcultures, united by a common culture and social movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality. LGBT activists and sociologists see LGBT community-building as a counterbalance to heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexualism, and conformist pressures that exist in the larger society. The term pride or sometimes gay pride is used to express the LGBT community's identity and collective strength; pride parades provide both a prime example of the use and a demonstration of the general meaning of the term. The LGBT community is diverse in political affiliation. Not all people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender consider themselves part of the LGBT community.

Controversies

The main controversy was a religious panflet made by a Christian pastor supporting Ramos and calling Christians to vote for him. Costa Rica's electoral law forbids to use religion in any way during a political campaign, and of course internal criticism for what was considered a very conservative view in a generally liberal progressive party. [10]

Debates

As with all presidential primaries, debates were organized between the candidates in different radio shows, universities, forums and networks. The two more prevalent are organized by the two biggest networks: Teletica on July 5 and Repretel on July 6. [11]

Teletica, formerly known as Televisora de Costa Rica S.A., is the first Costa Rican television company, founded in 1958. It operates Teletica Canal 7, Teletica Canal 33, and, since 1991, CableTica.

Repretel

Representaciones Televisivas S.A., commonly known as Repretel is a Costa Rican media company, founded by Angela Gonzalez, that came into competition with Teletica and Canal9. Repretel owns Costa Rican channels 4, 6, 11,46 and 2. Repretel began operating in 1993 with Channel 9, in 2000 the lease expired and moved to Channel 4. The company also operates 11 radio stations.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "2 ministros coquetean con precandidatura del PAC". La Prensa Libre. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  2. ↑ Madrigal, Luis (2017). "Epsy Campbell desiste de la precandidatura presidencial". Mundo. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "Welmer Ramos aglutina apoyo de sectores diversos del PAC". CR Hoy. 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "Carlos Alvarado lidera la votación de convención del PAC tras 78% de mesas escrutadas". Teletica. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "Welmer Ramos huye de la prensa tras aceptar derrota". CRHoy. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Epsy Campbell y Oscar Arias los personajes políticos con mayor índice de opinión positiva" (in Spanish). elmundo.cr. 2017.
  7. ↑ Madrigal, Luis. "ENCUESTA: Carlos Alvarado vs. Welmer Ramos previo a la convención del PAC". elmundo.cr.
  8. ↑ Alvarado, Josué. "Carlos Alvarado resume su paso por el PAC en precampaña". CRHoy. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  9. ↑ Madrigal, Luis. "Welmer Ramos afirma ser "tolerante y respetuoso" de derechos de las personas LGBTI". Mundo. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  10. ↑ Ruiz, Gerardo. "Mensaje de pastor crispa la campaña del PAC". La Nación. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  11. ↑ Zuniga, Amanda. "Precandidatos del PAC se preparan para debates". Daily Planet. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
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