Citizens' Action Party presidential primary, 2017
July 9, 2017
Turnout40.000
 
Nominee Carlos Alvarado Welmer Ramos
Party PAC PAC
Popular vote 18.320 14.387
Percentage 56% 44%
Most voted candidate by province:
  Ramos
  Alvarado
Previous Presidential Candidate

Luis Guillermo Solís
PAC

 Presidential Candidate

Carlos Alvarado
PAC

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 2018 Costa Rican general election. Albeit rumors about possible candidates included former candidate and former deputy Ottón Solís, then Vice-President Ana Helena Chacón and former president of Congress and then UN ambassador Juan Carlos Mendoza, all of them denied having aspirations at 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]

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 "Ottonista" 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] Alvarado would win the presidential race a few months later.

Opinion polls

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

Campaign

Alvarado focused his campaign highlighting the government's achievements, whilst Ramos distanced 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 annual 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 any form of legislation that recognizes same-sex couples and would respect the Party's official position in the matter.[9]

Controversies

The main controversy was a religious pamphlet 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]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "2 ministros coquetean con precandidatura del PAC". La Prensa Libre. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  2. ↑ Madrigal, Luis (2017). "Epsy Campbell desiste de la precandidatura presidencial". Mundo. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. 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. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. 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 European Spanish). elmundo.cr. 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
  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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