Costa Rica
From Libertarian Wiki
Main Libertarian Party: Movimiento Libertario
Contents |
Costa Rica
Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the east and south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and the Caribbean Sea to the east.
Costa Rica, which translates literally as "Rich Coast",constitutionally abolished its army permanently in 1949. Expenditure on the police corps is about US$17.99 per person. Costa Rica has consistently been among the top Latin American countries in terms of the Human Development Index, and ranked 54th in the world in 2007. The country is ranked 5th in the world, and 1st among the Americas, in terms of the 2008 Environmental Performance Index. In 2007 the Costa Rican government announced plans for Costa Rica to become the first carbon neutral country by 2021. According to the New Economics Foundation, Costa Rica ranks first in the Happy Planet Index and is the greenest country in the world.
Politics
Costa Rica is the only country in the world to have Libertarian congressmen.
The country's Offical Libertarian party is Movimiento Libertario. Legislative elections were last held on 5 February 2006. The percentage vote by party broke down as follows, with the number of Assembly seats indicated being awarded:
* National Liberation Party (PLN): 36%, 25 seats * Citizens' Action Party (PAC): 26%, 17 seats * Libertarian Movement Party (Movimiento Libertario) (PML): 9%, 6 seats * Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC): 8%, 5 seats * Others: 18%, 4 seats
The next legislative election is to be held in February 2010.
Government
Costa Rica is a democratic republic with a strong constitution. Although there are claims that the country has had more than 115 years of uninterrupted democracy, their presidential election history shows otherwise. Nonetheless, the country has had at least 59 years of uninterrupted democracy, making it one of the most stable countries in the region. Costa Rica has been able to avoid the widespread violence that has plagued most of Latin America.
Military
On December 1, 1948, President José Figueres Ferrer of Costa Rica abolished the country's army after victory in the civil war in that year. In a ceremony in the Cuartel Bellavista, Figueres broke a wall with a mallet symbolizing the end of Costa Rica's military spirit. In 1949, the abolition of the military was introduced in Article 12 of the Costa Rican Constitution. José Figueres Ferrer breaking a wall of the Cuartel Bellavista symbolizing the abolition of the Military.
The budget previously dedicated to the military now is dedicated to security, education and culture; the country maintains Police Guard forces. The museum Museo Nacional de Costa Rica was placed in the Cuartel Bellavista as a symbol of commitment to culture.
In 1986, President Oscar Arias Sánchez declared December 1 as the Día de la Abolición del Ejército (Military abolition day) with Law #8115.
Unlike its neighbors, Costa Rica has not endured a civil war since 1948.
Costa Rica maintains small forces capable of law enforcement and foreign peacekeeping, but has no permanent standing army.
| Countries with known Libertarian movements |
|---|
| Canada | Costa Rica | New Zealand | United States | United Kingdom |
