National Unification Party (Costa Rica)
Encyclopedia
The National Unification Party (Partido Unificación Nacional) was a political party
in Costa Rica
from 1966 to 1978. It was founded by Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia
and Otilio Ulate Blanco
, and espoused social welfare and a free market.
The party, was formed in reaction to the post civil war
success of the National Liberation Party. It was formed from the old National Republican Party, led by former president Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia and the National Union Party
, headed by former president Otilio Ulate Blanco, joined by a few minor parties. Calderón Guardia quickly took control of the party. The party was highly personalist
, and sometimes the party was referred to as the Calderónistas.
In the 1966 general elections, they won the presidency with José Joaquín Trejos Fernández
, but were just shy of a majority in the Legislative Assembly
winning 26 seats. In the 1970 elections they ran former president Mario Echandi Jiménez
, but lost the presidency due to the return of the hero of the civil war, José Figueres Ferrer
, nevertheless they managed to hold on to 22 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The death of Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia in 1970 weakened the party, even though his brother Francisco Calderón Guardia
then took control. In the 1974 elections they ran Fernando Trejos Escalante for president, but he was easily defeated by Daniel Oduber Quirós
, and altogether they won only 16 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Francisco Calderón Guardia died in 1977 which was the death knell for the party. Most of the original coalition left the party, including the Republicans and the National Union Party. The National Unification Party's last gasp was the 1978 elections where they ran Guillermo Villalobos Arce for president, but he lost and the party took no seats in the Legislative Assembly. The National Unification Party had already been replaced by the temporary Unity Coalition, which metamorphosed into the Social Christian Unity Party
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
from 1966 to 1978. It was founded by Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia
Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia
Rafael Ángel del Socorro Calderón Guardia was the president of Costa Rica from 1940 to 1944.-Early life:Calderón was born on 10 March 1900 in San José. In his youth, Calderón studied in Costa Rica and Belgium, where he married Yvonne Clays Spoelders, who was later to be the first female diplomat of...
and Otilio Ulate Blanco
Otilio Ulate Blanco
Luis Emilio Rafael Otilio Gonzalez Ulate y Blanco served as President of Costa Rica from 1949 to 1953. His French heritage comes from his mother, Ermida Blanco...
, and espoused social welfare and a free market.
The party, was formed in reaction to the post civil war
Costa Rican Civil War
The Costa Rican Civil War was the bloodiest event in 20th century Costa Rican history. It lasted for 44 days , during which approximately 2,000 people are believed to have died...
success of the National Liberation Party. It was formed from the old National Republican Party, led by former president Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia and the National Union Party
National Union Party (Costa Rica)
The National Union Party is a political party in Costa Rica.In the 2006 general elections, they won 2.5 % of the legislative votes, and 1.6 % of the Presidential vote. They were able to win one seat in the legislature....
, headed by former president Otilio Ulate Blanco, joined by a few minor parties. Calderón Guardia quickly took control of the party. The party was highly personalist
Cult of personality
A cult of personality arises when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods, to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. Cults of personality are usually associated with dictatorships...
, and sometimes the party was referred to as the Calderónistas.
In the 1966 general elections, they won the presidency with José Joaquín Trejos Fernández
José Joaquín Trejos Fernández
José Joaquín Antonio Trejos Fernández was President of Costa Rica from 1966 to 1970.His parents were Juan Trejos Quirós and Emilia Fernández Aguilar. As a student he obtained degrees in mathematics and economics from the University of Costa Rica...
, but were just shy of a majority in the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica
The Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislative branch of the government of Costa Rica. The national congress building is located in the city capital, San José, specifically in El Carmen District in San José Canton.-Composition:...
winning 26 seats. In the 1970 elections they ran former president Mario Echandi Jiménez
Mario Echandi Jiménez
Mario José Echandi Jiménez was President of Costa Rica from 1958 to 1962.- As diplomat :Mario Echandi was a career diplomat....
, but lost the presidency due to the return of the hero of the civil war, José Figueres Ferrer
José Figueres Ferrer
José María Hipólito Figueres Ferrer , served as President of Costa Rica on three occasions:1948–1949, 1953–1958, and 1970–1974....
, nevertheless they managed to hold on to 22 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The death of Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia in 1970 weakened the party, even though his brother Francisco Calderón Guardia
Francisco Calderón Guardia
Francisco Calderón Guardia was a Costa Rican politician.Guardia was a member of the influential Calderón-Guardia family, born in San Jose, the son of Rafael Ángel Calderón Muñoz and Ana Maria Guardia Mora. He was married three times, first in 1937 with Leticia G.H.G...
then took control. In the 1974 elections they ran Fernando Trejos Escalante for president, but he was easily defeated by Daniel Oduber Quirós
Daniel Oduber Quirós
Porfirio Ricardo José Luis Daniel Oduber Quirós served as President ofCosta Rica from 1974 to 1978. Early in his career he worked as a lawyer.In 1945 he went to Canada to study philosophy at McGill University, graduating with...
, and altogether they won only 16 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Francisco Calderón Guardia died in 1977 which was the death knell for the party. Most of the original coalition left the party, including the Republicans and the National Union Party. The National Unification Party's last gasp was the 1978 elections where they ran Guillermo Villalobos Arce for president, but he lost and the party took no seats in the Legislative Assembly. The National Unification Party had already been replaced by the temporary Unity Coalition, which metamorphosed into the Social Christian Unity Party
Social Christian Unity Party
The Social Christian Unity Party is a political party in Costa Rica.PUSC considers itself a Christian Democratic Party and, as such, is a member of the Centrist Democrat International.-2002 election:...
.
External links
- Costa Rican Assembly members 1966-1978 for the National Unification Party Official Costa Rican Assembly website, last accessed 1 December 2008, in Spanish