Broad Front (Costa Rica)

The Broad Front (Frente Amplio) is a left-wing political party in Costa Rica, the main component of the front is the Alternative of the Lefts Movement (Movimiento Alternativa de Izquierdas). They are defined by progressive, socialist, green, social justice, human rights and democratic ideas. The party is a member of the Foro de Sao Paulo, part of the international Latin American Left Movement (pink tide) of democratic socialism.[1]

Broad Front Partido Frente Amplio
President	Patricia Mora Castellanos
Secretary-General	William Rodolfo Ulloa Bonilla
Treasurer	Roberto Joaquín Alfaro Zumbado
Vice-president	Gerardo Vargas Varela
Subsecretary	Gerardo Vargas Varela
Subtreasurer	Suray Carrillo Guevara
Founder	José Merino del Río
Founded	16 October 2004
Headquarters	Casa Amarilla Barrio Amón
Ideology	Democratic socialism Socialism of the 21st Century Progressivism Environmentalism Humanism Secularism
Political position	Left-wing
Regional affiliation	Foro de São Paulo
Colors	Yellow
Legislative Assembly	1 / 57
Mayors	0 / 82
Alderpeople	9 / 508
Syndics	1 / 486
District councillors	18 / 1,944
Intendants	0 / 8
Website
http://www.frenteamplio.org/
Politics of Costa Rica Political parties Elections

History

In the 2006 general elections, they won 1.1% of the legislative votes, and won one seat in the legislature, occupied by José Merino Del Rio. In the 2010 general elections they kept their seat, occupied by José María Villalta Florez-Estrada. Their Presidential Candidate was Costa Rica’s Technological Institute’s Rector Eugenio Trejos Benavides. For the 2014 election the party’s nominee was then congressman Villalta, who was receiving a lot of support according to the polls, something unusual in Costa Rica for a left-wing candidate, and even appearing in some as the frontrunner.[2] Nevertheless lost momentum after a very negative campaign especially from right-wing party Libertarian Movement and PAC's recovery after the party's candidate Luis Guillermo Solís improved his image in the debates attracting votes from the more moderate leftist electors.[3]

Villalta ended third in the presidential race with 17% of the votes, below PLN's nominee Johnny Araya and PAC’s Luis Guillermo Solís, but increased its parliamentary representation from one to nine seats. It also won one mayor in the 2016 municipal elections in the Barva canton and in alliance with PAC in Acosta and Montes de Oca.[4][5]

During the 2014-2018 legislative period the party suffered several minor scandals involving its deputies including Guanacaste’s representative and former Catholic priest Ronal Vargas's resignation after being accused of sexual harassment, deputy Ligia Falla’s use of her parliamentary office for alleged romantic encounters of her advisors, and domestic abuse accusations against two parties' deputies.

Electoral performance

Presidential

Election	Leader	Votes	%	Position	Government
2010	Eugenio Trejos Benavides	6,822	0.37%	7/9	Opposition
2014	José María Villalta Florez-Estrada	354,479	17.25%	3/13	Opposition
2018	Edgardo Araya Sibaja	16,862	0.78%	8/13	Opposition

Parliamentary

Election	Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Government
2006	No presidential candidate	17,751	1.10%	1 / 57	1	11/27	Opposition
2010	Eugenio Trejos Benavides	68.987	3.66%	1 / 57	0	7/18	Opposition
2014	José María Villalta Florez-Estrada	221,780	13.09%	9 / 57	8	3/21	Opposition
2018	Edgardo Araya Sibaja	84,437	3.95%	1 / 57	8	7/25	Opposition

References

1. Sanchez, Isabel. "Leftist parties gaining ground as Costa Rica and El Salvador elections near". Tico Times. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
2. Kane, Corey. "Villalta's rise and Araya's fall could upset 50 years of political dominance in Costa Rica". Tico Times. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
3. Turner, Blair (20 August 2015). Latin America 2015-2016. ISBN 9781475818710. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
4. Lehring, Gary. "Costa Rican legislative elections show growing voter dissatisfaction with traditional choices". Tico Times. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
5. Buckman, Robert T. (20 August 2014). Latin America 2014. ISBN 9781475812282. Retrieved 27 March 2016.