Movimiento Libertario
Encyclopedia
The Partido Movimiento Libertario ("Libertarian Movement Party or PML") is a political party based on classical liberalism
in Costa Rica.
It was founded in May 1994 and has since enjoyed a number of victories. It succeeded in getting attorney Otto Guevara
elected to the Legislative Assembly
in its first campaign in 1998. In 2002, Guevara ran for president (unsuccessfully, 1.7% of the vote), and the party at the legislative elections won 9.3% of the popular vote and 6 out of 57 seats. A few weeks after taking office, one Congressman left the party and became independent, leaving PML with five seats. In 2006, Guevara again ran for president (unsuccessfully, 8.4% of the vote), and the party at the legislative elections won 9.1% of the popular vote and 6 out of 57 seats. A few months later, another Congressman left the party and became independent, leaving PML with five seats again. In the 2010 general election Guevara was again the PML's presidential candidate and received 20% of the popular vote.
The PML was an observer of the Liberal International
or LI, and recently attained full status according to the LI website; so therefore it is also listed as a liberal party.
Classical liberalism
Classical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
in Costa Rica.
It was founded in May 1994 and has since enjoyed a number of victories. It succeeded in getting attorney Otto Guevara
Otto Guevara
Otto Guevara Guth is a politician in Costa Rica and founder of the Partido Movimiento Libertario . He served in the Costa Rican legislature from 1998-2006...
elected to the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica
The Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislative branch of the government of Costa Rica. The national congress building is located in the city capital, San José, specifically in El Carmen District in San José Canton.-Composition:...
in its first campaign in 1998. In 2002, Guevara ran for president (unsuccessfully, 1.7% of the vote), and the party at the legislative elections won 9.3% of the popular vote and 6 out of 57 seats. A few weeks after taking office, one Congressman left the party and became independent, leaving PML with five seats. In 2006, Guevara again ran for president (unsuccessfully, 8.4% of the vote), and the party at the legislative elections won 9.1% of the popular vote and 6 out of 57 seats. A few months later, another Congressman left the party and became independent, leaving PML with five seats again. In the 2010 general election Guevara was again the PML's presidential candidate and received 20% of the popular vote.
The PML was an observer of the Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
or LI, and recently attained full status according to the LI website; so therefore it is also listed as a liberal party.
Purpose
The party claims to represent hundreds of thousands of Costa Rican citizens from all walks of life, tired of politics, parties, traditional politicians, and the country's deteriorating situation.Policy positions
- Moderate intervention of the State in health, education, infrastructure and other areas
- Break up of all of the state-owned monopolies and eliminate legal barriers on private economic activities
- Provide a low flat tax for the income produced within the country, eliminate many of the current taxes
- Free trade – eliminate tariffs and barriers to the entry of goods
- Freedom to choose the currency that consenting individuals want
- Freedom to choose your own doctor within the social security system
- Strengthen individual pension accounts
- Freedom of parents to choose schools through vouchers
- Respect for private property
- Reduction of the participation of government in the economy
- Freedom of speech and press
- Respect for the religious beliefs (or lack thereof) of the people
- Transfer of responsibility from central government to local governments
Congressional representation
- Mirna Patricia Pérez Hegg (San José)
- Damaris Quintana Porras (San José)
- Danilo Cubero Corrales (Alajuela) (Jefe de Fracción)
- Mireya Zamora (Alajuela) (Primera Secretaria de la Asamblea Legislativa)
- Carlos Humberto Góngora (Cartago)
- Marielos Alfaro (Heredia) (Vicejefa de Fracción)
- Adonay Henríquez Guevara (Puntarenas)
- Manuel Hernández Rivera (Limón)
- Ernesto Enrique Chavarría Ruiz (Guanacaste)
Controversies
In 2005, a dispute erupted between moderates and radicals within the party that led to the ouster of some of the more radical members. Despite this setback, PML continued to track along a course of “practical libertarianism” that seeks to bridge the gap between ideology and politics. Guevara said his party was now liberal and not libertarian.External links
- Movimiento Libertario Official Site
- RELIAL Network of Latin America Libertarian/Classical Liberal Organizations
- Reason Magazine interview with Otto Guevara