Pac Takes Office: Changes And Challenges In Costa Rica’s Political System

Abstract

This paper describes the 2014 Costa Rican national election as a critical event in the evolution of its party system by examining the ways in which the current configuration results from the combination of two elements: a fragmentation pattern in the distribution of power, with the electoral system as a constant, and a series of surprising events and contingencies that arose during the last political campaign. In addressing this case study, we have defined the main indicators of the party system and institutional transformations produced through a process of progressive changes over time. The main consequence of this institutional process has been a political context of greater political fragmentation, divided government and a tension environment with the old political elite.