QCOSTARICA — The 2026 presidential elections represent a turning point for the future of the Partido Liberaciòn Nacional (PLN), according to Johnny Araya, former PLN presidential candidate and long time mayor of Costa Rica’s capital city.
In fact, the PLN is making efforts to continue being the largest party in Costa Rica and, worse still, and ensure its survival. That is why alliances with sectors and parties must be promoted, especially when democracy and its institutions are being attacked by the ruling party, Araya asserts.
The next presidential candidate must be a person with a fresh face, who generates empathy and who reconnects with sectors such as agriculture, cooperatives and educators, among others, while being a person without any question.
– Advertisement –
Read more: Johnny Araya Quits Presidential Race!
The PLN, for decades alternating power with the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC), has had 3 electoral defeats in a row, while on the municipal scene it has lost a lot of ground.
How important is the next presidential election for the PLN? It is clear that for Liberación Nacional, the next electoral process and its result are of vital importance. A fourth defeat would be an event that would put the future of the party in doubt.
That is why the PLN has to make an effort to choose a figure, whether male or female, who has leadership, who is a fresh face, who can connect with the Costa Rican electorate and who has empathy.
Read more: Diego Miranda: People are fed up with Johnny Araya and corruption
Liberación Nacional does not have to base its strength on past achievements, such as having the first woman president of Costa Rica and Oscar Arias, a two-time president and Nobel price winner, but must be able to make a proposal or a set of proposals on the serious situation that Costa Rica is experiencing in different fields, some of them with very dramatic situations such as insecurity, the penetration of drug trafficking and the increase in inequality, since today we are one of the most unequal countries in Latin America.
– Advertisement –
The approach has to be realistic and pragmatic in light of the reality that the country is experiencing.
Can we say that the PLN is battling for its survival or at least its political validity as a major party?
Araya answer that there is no doubt that Liberación has a lot at stake in this 2026 election, including its future as a major party in Costa Rica.
“The PLN has to make the greatest efforts to win this electoral process and regain the trust of many sectors, such as farmers, educators and the public sector, to name a few, and thus win again; otherwise, I think that Liberation would cease to be what it has historically been, such as the most important and largest party that Costa Rica has had,” stated Araya.
– Advertisement –
Taking into account the style of politics of President Rodrigo Chaves and the popular support that the polls indicate in his favor and his supposedly authoritarian attitudes, can we conclude that the 2026 elections are the most important in a long time?
Arays said that he considers that the country is currently experiencing a situation of threat to democratic institutions and to democracy itself.
“Costa Rica is facing a situation of total instability in its democratic institutions, which are in danger and have never lost as much since 1948 as they have at this moment, and it seems to me that, evidently, the 2026 elections should mark an important change so that the country can once again take up a political leadership that is capable of respecting the country’s institutions and of believing in our democratic institutions again,” said Araya.
“The country is in urgent need of change like never before. How can we ensure that the PLN is the majority force and, more importantly, that when the time comes for a second round, people do not go out to vote against the PLN as has happened before?”, asked the former presidential candidate
“It depends on several factors. I insist again, for example, on having the wisdom and intelligence to choose a candidate who broadens the social base of support and regains the trust of social sectors that have distanced themselves from the party,” answered Araya.
To achieve possible political alliances with other forces, understanding that at this moment the priority for Costa Rica is to defend democratic institutions are what Araya recommends the party leadership take into account.
“Alliances should not be ruled out, but rather should be promoted in order to defend the country’s democratic institutions, but also, above all, alliances with social sectors such as the agricultural sector, educators and cooperatives,” concluded Araya.
– Advertisement –
Source link
Rico
