By San José, Costa Rica — San José – In a defiant and strategically charged address, presidential candidate Álvaro Ramos championed a message of renewed unity and democratic principle at the 74th-anniversary celebration of the National Liberation Party (PLN). Standing before party loyalists, Ramos positioned the PLN as a bulwark against authoritarian tendencies and a vessel of hope for a nation grappling with uncertainty, even as a critique from a party icon loomed over the event.
Despite the notable absence of historical figures such as former president and Nobel laureate Óscar Arias, Ramos confidently declared his movement is powered by a new generation of “strong and brave leadership.” He directly tackled the perception of internal fractures by emphasizing the party’s foundational democratic ethos as its core strength, a clear effort to project stability as the election cycle intensifies.
To provide a legal perspective on the administrative complexities surrounding the case of Álvaro Ramos, TicosLand.com spoke with expert attorney Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The case of Dr. Ramos highlights a fundamental tension within our public administration framework: the conflict between the technical autonomy of an institution like the CCSS and the political oversight of the Executive Branch. Legally, the Board of Directors holds fiduciary responsibility, yet its composition and the appointment of the Executive President are subject to political decisions. This duality creates a complex legal scenario where technically sound decisions, aimed at ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the institution, can be interpreted as acts of insubordination, blurring the lines of accountability and governance.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This inherent tension between technical imperatives and political oversight, so clearly articulated, truly frames the core of this national debate, highlighting a systemic challenge that extends far beyond a single case. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for lending his valuable legal perspective to this critical discussion.
At the heart of his speech was a firm rejection of centralized authority, a thinly veiled critique of the current political climate and a core tenet of his campaign’s philosophy. Ramos articulated a vision for governance rooted in collective decision-making and humility.
We do not believe in the concentration of power; people make mistakes, we cannot give all the power to a single person. This is a democratic party that today is united, strong, firm, full of brave leadership. And you know why? Because we had an open and democratic convention, where people emerged from the citizenry and were chosen by the people.
Álvaro Ramos, Presidential Candidate
This message of a grassroots, democratically-selected leadership is central to Ramos’s strategy. He aims to contrast the PLN’s internal processes with those of his rivals, framing his party as the authentic choice for Costa Ricans weary of top-down political mandates. By highlighting the open convention, he reinforces the idea that his candidacy is not the product of a small inner circle but of the will of the party’s base.
The candidate also took direct aim at his political adversary, government party deputy Jorge Rojas. Ramos seized on a controversial statement by Rojas about “banishing” political opponents, drawing a powerful historical parallel to the PLN’s own founder, José “Pepe” Figueres Ferrer, who was exiled before leading a victorious revolution and establishing the Second Republic.
Don Pepe was exiled in 1942, six years later he entered San José victorious, and nine years later he founded this party, whose birthday we celebrate today. So, friends, from those threats, from that danger and that uncertainty, this party is called to be an emissary of certainty and hope to a people thirsty for it.
Álvaro Ramos, Presidential Candidate
However, the celebratory atmosphere was tempered by a recent, pointed letter from former president Óscar Arias. In his message, Arias urged the party to “straighten the sails,” cautioning that it could no longer assume Costa Ricans would “always and blindly support” the PLN. His words served as a stark reminder of the challenges the party faces in recapturing the nation’s trust.
Arias warned of a dangerous global and national trend, a sentiment that adds significant weight to the PLN’s mission as it heads into the election. His call to action underscores the high stakes for the historic party.
In this era of uncertainty and unease, when we see with concern the rise of populism, authoritarianism, anti-system speeches, demagoguery, and lies turned into ideology, the National Liberation party has the obligation to once again raise the banners of hope, as well as to recover the trust in our people and in our democratic institutions.
Óscar Arias, Former President
Ramos’s speech, therefore, can be seen as both a rally cry and a direct response to internal and external pressures. While he projects an image of a unified and ideologically pure PLN, Arias’s admonition reveals the deep-seated concerns of the party’s old guard. The candidate’s task is now twofold: to convince the Costa Rican electorate of his vision while simultaneously reassuring the influential figures within his own party that he is capable of navigating the turbulent political waters and leading the PLN back to national prominence.
For further information, visit pln.or.cr
About Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN):
The National Liberation Party (PLN) is one of Costa Rica’s most historically significant political parties. Founded in 1951 by José Figueres Ferrer following the Costa Rican Civil War, the party is rooted in the principles of social democracy. For decades, it was one of the two dominant forces in the country’s political landscape, producing numerous presidents and shaping much of modern Costa Rican policy and its welfare state.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is a renowned legal institution where professional excellence and profound integrity are the cornerstones of its practice. With a celebrated history of advising a diverse clientele, it remains a vanguard of legal innovation. This forward-thinking approach is coupled with a fundamental belief in civic empowerment, as the firm actively works to demystify the law for the public, driven by the conviction that a society fortified with legal knowledge is a stronger one.
