1953 Costa Rican general election

General elections were held in Costa Rica on 26 July 1953.[1] José Figueres Ferrer of the National Liberation Party won the presidential election, whilst his party also won the parliamentary election. Voter turnout was 67% in the presidential election and 68% in the parliamentary election.[2] Local elections were also held.

1953 Costa Rican general election
26 July 1953
Presidential election
 
Nominee José Figueres Ferrer Fernando Castro Cervantes
Party PLN Democratic
Popular vote 123,444 67,324
Percentage 64.71% 35.29%
President before election

Otilio Ulate
PUN

 Elected President

José Figueres Ferrer
PLN

Parliamentary election
PartyLeader % Seats +/–
PLN José Figueres Ferrer 64.75 30 +27
Democratic Fernando Castro Cervantes 21.19 11 New
PRN Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia 7.21 3 New
PUN Otilio Ulate Blanco 6.85 1 -34
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A ballot paper from the elections

This was Costa Rica's first election since the end of the 1948 Civil War, and democratic guarantees were not fully restored.

José Figueres, the caudillo of the victorious National Liberation Army faction in the Civil War, was the candidate of the newly founded National Liberation Party (PLN).[3] Liberal Mario Echandi tried to be the candidate from then-ruling National Union Party (PUN), but his candidacy was denied by the Electoral Tribunal due to purported irregularities in the adherents' signatures.[3] This move was highly criticized by Figueres' opponents as an action in favor of Figueres' candidacy.[3]

As PUN was unable to participate, the only other candidacy alternate to Figueres was made by the Democratic Party, which nominated wealthy industrial magnate Fernando Castro Cervantes.[3] The three parties—PLN, PUN and Democratic—were all formerly united in opposition against the 1940s governments of Rafael Angel Calderón and his allies, who were viewed as having caused the civil war. Yet, after the war, such unification ceased.[3]

The losing sides in the civil war, mostly the Republicans (Calderón supporters) and the Communists, were unable to participate as the Republicans' party was disbanded and the Communist Party was constitutionally outlawed.[3] The Republicans were nonetheless allowed to participate in the legislative ballot with a provincial party in San José called the "Independent" Republican Party, and thereby gained some seats. As expected, Figueres won by a landslide victory.[3]

Background

The 1948 general elections had resulted in Otilio Ulate Blanco, National Union Party's nominee, winning over former president Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia and his coalition of the communist People's Vanguard Party and the socialcristiano National Republican Party.[4][5] The annulment of Ulate's victory led to a civil war that resulted in the overthrow of the calderonista government and the establishing of the "Founding Junta of the Second Republic", led by José Figueres Ferrer. Figueres, a social democrat, reached a deal with Otilio Ulate in which the Junta would govern with all powers (executive, legislative, judicial) for 18 months, introducing a wide array of reformist policies and would convene the election of a Constituent Assembly. In return, the Junta would recognize the legitimacy of Ulate's 1948 victory and would return power to him on no later than November 8, 1949, making him the first president of the "Second Republic" for a period no longer than 4 years.[6]

The Junta constituted itself as a revolutionary government, suspended the 1871 Constitution, with the exception of the individual and social rights. It published several executive degrees with force of law repealing labor rights consecrated in the Labor Code, with the objective of firing calderonista and communist public employees.[7][8] Alleging the prevention of any potential rise of militarist tendencies looking to frustrate the consolidation of democracy, the Junta abolished the country's armed forces, keeping only a police force to keep national security. Ever since Costa Rica has had no army. Other policies enacted by the Junta include universal suffrage, allowing women, Afro-descendants and illiterates to vote. The Constituent Assembly of Costa Rica, elected in December, 1948 approved a new Constitution, based on the previous one but with several changes, after the first, more progressive draft was rejected.[9]

The new government agreed to maintain the calderonista social and economic reforms, causing discomfort with oligarchic and conservative sectors. Furthermore, Figueres' decision to nationalize all banks and a 10% wealth tax were controversial and led to a failed coup attempt by Public Security Minister Edgar Cardona Quirós, in what is now known as the es:Cardonazo.[10]

Results

President
CandidatePartyVotes%
José Figueres FerrerNational Liberation Party123,44464.71
Fernando Castro CervantesDemocratic Party67,32435.29
Total190,768100.00
Valid votes190,76896.60
Invalid votes2,3301.18
Blank votes4,3912.22
Total votes197,489100.00
Registered voters/turnout293,67867.25
Source: Nohlen

By province
Province Figueres % Castro %
 San José Province 64.1 35.9
 Alajuela 67.8 32.2
 Cartago 75.0 25.0
 Heredia 62.5 37.5
 Puntarenas 58.4 41.6
 Limón 54.4 45.6
 Guanacaste 57.9 42.1
Total 64.7 35.3

Parliament
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
National Liberation Party114,04364.7530+27
Democratic Party37,32221.1911New
National Republican Party12,6967.213New
National Union Party12,0696.851–34
Total176,130100.00450
Valid votes176,13088.83
Invalid votes13,8727.00
Blank votes8,2684.17
Total votes198,270100.00
Registered voters/turnout293,67867.51
Source: Nohlen

By province
Province PLN PD PRN PUN
 % S  % S  % S  % S
 San José 64.7 10 11.4 2 17.3 3 6.6 1
 Alajuela 67.8 6 26.4 2 - - 5.7 0
 Cartago 75.5 5 18.2 1 - - 6.3 0
 Heredia 62.2 2 31.1 1 - - 6.3 0
 Puntarenas 59.1 3 36.0 2 - - 4.9 0
 Limón 55.0 1 30.7 1 - - 14.3 0
 Guanacaste 53.2 3 36.0 2 - - 10.8 0
Total 64.7 30 21.2 11 7.2 3 6.9 1

By canton
 San José
Province PLN PRN PD PUN
 %  %  %  %
San José 57.46 22.47 11.44 8.63
Escazú 73.40 10.68 13.68 2.24
Desamparados 76.91 10.76 7.83 4.49
Puriscal 66.38 11.45 16.83 5.34
Tarrazú 71.46 8.02 12.79 7.74
Aserrí 70.72 12.01 11.95 5.32
Mora 67.85 18.52 9.77 3.86
Goicoechea 64.69 19.35 11.39 4.57
Santa Ana 71.19 11.78 14.15 2.89
Alajuelita 60.18 18.54 15.13 6.14
Vázquez de Coronado 79.23 9.87 5.55 5.35
Acosta 71.70 8.61 15.80 3.89
Tibás 67.43 19.77 9.21 3.60
Moravia 66.44 16.64 9.95 6.97
Montes de Oca 69.27 14.54 9.27 6.93
Turrubares 63.50 3.41 27.74 5.34
Dota 73.06 9.19 9.52 8.23
Curridabat 78.52 10.59 8.12 2.77
Pérez Zeledón 84.51 3.04 8.99 3.46
Total 64.70 17.35 11.40 6.55
 Alajuela
Province PLN PD PUN
 %  %  %
Alajuela 64.77 30.75 4.48
San Ramón 68.53 19.28 12.19
Grecia 66.72 29.60 3.69
San Mateo 70.44 24.50 5.05
Atenas 68.07 20.91 11.02
Naranjo 77.94 18.62 3.44
Palmares 69.48 23.82 6.70
Poás 77.15 16.44 6.42
Orotina 57.80 39.16 3.04
San Carlos 67.07 28.74 4.19
Alfaro Ruiz 67.57 26.98 5.45
Valverde Vega 72.82 25.41 1.77
Total 67.81 26.45 5.74
 Cartago
Province PLN PD PUN
 %  %  %
Cartago 77.45 15.65 6.91
Paraíso 67.86 16.67 12.47
La Unión 71.25 23.66 5.09
Jiménez 82.89 10.38 6.74
Turrialba 67.94 27.13 4.93
Alvarado 84.42 13.09 2.49
Oreamuno 87.48 6.35 6.17
El Guarco 81.08 17.68 1.24
Total 75.52 18.23 6.25
 Heredia
Province PLN PD PUN
 %  %  %
Heredia 62.37 30.37 7.26
Barva 59.87 35.39 4.74
Santo Domingo 61.36 33.78 4.86
Santa Bárbara 66.16 27.55 6.28
San Rafael 63.99 27.26 8.75
San Isidro 68.64 27.75 3.61
Belén 60.94 36.45 2.61
Flores 61.77 27.76 10.47
Total 62.59 31.10 6.32
 Guanacaste
Province PLN PD PUN
 %  %  %
Liberia 58.02 30.85 11.13
Nicoya 48.09 38.41 13.51
Santa Cruz 49.57 43.32 7.12
Bagaces 61.39 30.89 7.72
Carrillo 54.20 33.22 12.59
Cañas 49.16 46.90 3.94
Abangares 63.57 30.09 6.35
Tilarán 63.15 17.91 18.94
Total 53.25 35.97 10.79
 Puntarenas
Province PLN PD PUN
 %  %  %
Puntarenas 62.64 34.22 3.15
Esparza 58.99 37.92 3.10
Buenos Aires 83.85 14.36 1.79
Montes de Oro 57.96 19.46 22.59
Osa 53.02 41.70 5.28
Aguirre 53.22 44.74 2.04
Golfito 54.92 35.31 9.77
Total 59.14 35.97 4.90
 Limón
Province PLN PD PUN
 %  %  %
Limón 57.57 35.05 7.38
Pococí 53.61 17.35 29.04
Siquirres 45.54 34.84 19.62
Total 55.00 30.72 14.28

Local government
PartyVotes%Seats
AlderpeopleMunicipal
syndics
National Liberation Party115,55364.58163310
Democratic Party42,00223.476414
National Republican Party10,6415.9550
National Union Party10,6365.9450
Turrialba Independent Union Party1030.0600
Total178,935100.00237324
Valid votes178,93590.23
Invalid/blank votes19,3819.77
Total votes198,316100.00
Registered voters/turnout293,67867.53
Source: TSE[11]

References
  1. Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p155 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
  2. Nohlen, p156
  3. Hernández Naranjo, Gerardo. "Reseña de las elecciones presidenciales de 1953" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 13 April 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. Castro Vega, Óscar (2007). Fin de la Segunda República: Figueres y la Constituyente del 49. San Pedro, Montes de Oca: EUNED. ISBN 978-9968-31-530-2. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  5. "Ulate y Figueres". La Nación. Grupo Nación. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  6. "Pacto Ulate-Figueres". El Espíritu del 48. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  7. Contreras, Gerardo (November 27, 2009). "ARNOLDO FERRETO SEGURA Y EL PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE COSTA RICA EN LA LUCHA POR LA SEGUNDA Y AUTÉNTICA INDEPENDENCIA NACIONAL". Revista Estudios. 22 (1). Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  8. Contreras, Gerardo (August 2011). "Una lectura crítica a don José Figueres Ferrer. En torno a la Guerra Civil de 1948 y su papel en la Junta Fundadora de la Segunda República". Diálogos Revista Electrónica. 9 (1): 176. doi:10.15517/dre.v9i1.6145. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  9. Aguilar Bulgarelli, Óscar (2004). Costa Rica y sus hechos políticos de 1948 Problemática de una década. San Pedro, Montes de Oca: EUNED. ISBN 9968-31-350-5.
  10. Guerén, Pablo. "Murió Edgar Cardona Quirós". La Nación, through Wayback Machine. Grupo Nación. Archived from the original on 2015-07-13. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  11. "Elecciones Regidurías 1953". tse.go.cr (in Spanish). Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
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