Коста-Рикадағы азаматтық саяси партиясының тарихы мен дамуы

The Citizens' Action Party (lang es; commonly abbreviated as PAC) is a political party in Costa Rica. Its platform is based on encouraging citizen participation and involvement in politics. One of its guiding ideals is to fight against corruption, arguing that it is one of the main causes of underdevelopment and voter apathy. The party took a leading role in the failed campaign against Costa Rica's membership of the Central American Free Trade Agreement.

PAC was founded in December 2000 by several dissidents from Costa Rica's two traditional parties, the National Liberation Party and the Social Christian Unity Party. Originally an anti corruption party, it startled the Costa Rican political arena with a very strong showing in the 2002 general elections. In the presidential vote, party founder and candidate Ottón Solís was able to secure 26% of the votes – an unprecedented amount for a third party in Costa Rica – and force a runoff between the PLN and PUSC. The party won 21.9% of the popular vote and 14 out of 57 seats in the Legislative Assembly, making it the third strongest political force in the legislature. A few months later, however, after a series of internal disputes, six of the party's 14 deputies resigned from the party, leaving PAC with only eight seats.

In the February 5, 2006 parliamentary election, the party won 17 out of 57 seats. Ottón Solís ran for president again, losing to the PLN's Oscar Arias Sanchez by less than 2% of the votes. Arias only won by a few thousand votes over the 40 percent threshold required to avoid a runoff. The number of spoiled ballots was larger than the margin between Solís and Arias. After the 2006 election, Ótton Solís took a year away from politics to teach in the United States. Former PLN Secretary General Luis Guillermo Solís' name began being circulated at meetings of the "ungroup," an informal gathering of PAC officials, led by former deputy Alberto Salom. Several PAC officials wanted Luis Guillermo Solís to run as a deputy in San José and as a vice presidential candidate in 2010. and attended meetings of the "ungroup" shortly thereafter in anticipation of the 2014 election.

The third national convention was held between only two candidates, both former ministers on PAC's first cabinet; Minister of Economy Welmer Ramos and Minister of Labor Carlos Alvarado. Ramos was an economist, more socially conservative and close to the "ottonista" faction, whilst Alvarado was writer and political scientist, much more socially liberal and younger, close to the "progresista" faction. Alvarado won the primary election becoming PAC's first time candidate during government. Despite suffering from a diminished popularity due to the Cementazo scandal affecting the image of Luis Guillermo Solis' government, Alvarado's progressive positions boost him into the second round as a counter reaction after the growth of Evangelical Christian singer and ultra conservative candidate Fabricio Alvarado after the backlash against the IACHR's ruling ordering the country to legalize same sex marriage, winning by a wide margin in the second round with 60% of the votes and more than 1,300,000 votes over the 39% and around 800,000 votes of his rival, becoming the second time that the party achieved more than a million votes in second round.

While cleaning up corruption has been one of PAC's main goals since its creation, Solís has added to the party's platform. He wants to build infrastructure, bolster Costa Rica's universal health care and social security systems and push for environmentally friendly policies. Historically, PAC has opposed free trade agreements such as CAFTA, which Solís claims is improperly implemented. In addition, PAC claims that the country's tax system is inadequate, saying that a more progressive system is needed.

PAC is a member of the Progressive Alliance. It maintains informal relations with other progressive and social democratic parties. Ottón Solís has independently met with Ricardo Lagos of the Socialist Party of Chile during a visit to Costa Rica, Cristina Fernández, and members of the Democratic Party of the United States.

The party was affected in 2016 by a conviction for irregular handling of funds when treasurer Maynor Sterling and an official of the headquarters named Bolaños were found guilty of trying to collect from the Supreme Elections Court for goods and services donated by adherents of the party. The conviction carried a fine of 500 million colones and jail terms for the two involved. In December 2020, the PAC resorts to requesting donations to pay the debt for fraud to the State.

Notable Members of PACName (Last, First)Notes Campbell Barr, Epsy Deputy 2002–2006 and 2014–2018, party president 2005–2009, politician, civil rights advocate Blanco, Wilfrido Vice Minister of Education Abel Pacheco administration (2002–2006). Former PLN member. Carazo Zeledón, Rodrigo Alberto National Ombudsman 1993–1997, and deputy 2002–2006. Son of ex president Rodrigo Carazo Odio Chacón Echeverría, Ana Helena Minister of Public Safety (Abel Pacheco administration (2002–2006), deputy (2006–2010), daughter of Luis Manuel Chacón (founding member of PUSC), Vice President (2014). Salom Echeverría, Alberto president of the Costa Rican Federation of University Students 1974–1975, vice president of National University of Costa Rica 1995–2000, deputy for PAC (2006–2010). Cañas Escalante, Alberto founding member of PAC, secretary of the Founding Junta of the Second Republic 1948, United Nations ambassador 1948–1949, president Editorial Costa Rica, deputy 1962–1966, Legislative Assembly President 1994–1998, Prime Minister 1970–1974. Fallas, Helio Minister of Planning Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier administration (1990–1994), Minister of Housing during Abel Pacheco administration (2002–2006), Vice President, 2014. Salas Bonilla, Jorge Antonio Mayor of Tibás Cantón 2007–2011. Solano, Hernán Vice Minister of Youth Abel Pacheco administration (2002–2006). Former PUSC member. Solís Fallas, Ottón Minister of Planning Óscar Arias administration (1986–1988), deputy (Figueres administration) 1994–1998, founding member of PAC, three time presidential candidate for PAC, deputy 2014–2018. Solís Bolaños, Ronald deputy with PAC 2006–2010, anti CAFTA activist, businessman. Ran in PAC presidential primary in 2013. Solís Rivera, Luis Guillermo Politician, historian, professor of Latin American Studies. Ex PLN Secretary General. President Elect 2014–2018. Trejos Lalli, Eduardo Internationalist and advisor, current Intelligence Director Villasuso, Juan Manuel President of Costa Rican Institute of Electricity Luis Alberto Monge administration (1982–1983), Minister of Planning Luis Alberto Monge administration (1983–1986). Former PLN member.

ElectionCandidateFirst roundSecond roundVotes%PositionResultVotes%PositionResult 2002 Ottón Solís 400,681 26.19% 3rd 2006 646,382 39.80% 2nd 2010 464,454 25.15% 2nd 2014 Luis Guillermo Solís 629,866 30.64% 1st ─ 1,314,327 77.81% 1st 2018 Carlos Alvarado Quesada 466,129 21.63% 2nd ─ 1,322,908 60.59% 1st 2022 Welmer Ramos González 13,803 0.66% 10th

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Government 2002 Ottón Solís 334,162 22.0% New 3rd 2006 409,030 25.3% 3 2nd 2010 334,636 17.6% 6 2nd 2014 Luis Guillermo Solís 480,969 23.4% 2 2nd 2018 Carlos Alvarado Quesada 347,703 16.3% 3 3rd 2022 Welmer Ramos González 44,622 2.2% 10 7th