Broad Front (Costa Rica)

Broad Front Frente Amplio
President	Patricia Mora Castellanos
Secretary-General	William Rodolfo Ulloa Bonilla
Treasurer	Roberto Joaquín Alfaro Zumbado
Vice-president	Gerardo Vargas Varela
Subsecretary	Gerardo Vargas Varela
Subtreasurer	Suray Carrillo Guevara
Founder	José Merino del Río
Founded	16 October 2004 (2004-10-16)
Headquarters	Casa Amarilla Barrio Amón
Ideology	Democratic socialism Socialism of the 21st century Social democracy Progressivism Socialist patriotism
Political position	Left-wing
Regional affiliation	São Paulo Forum
International affiliation	Progressive International
Colors	Yellow
Legislative Assembly	6 / 57
Mayors	0 / 82
Alderpeople	9 / 508
Syndics	1 / 486
District councillors	18 / 1,944
Intendants	0 / 8
Party flag
Website
http://www.frenteamplio.org/
Politics of Costa Rica Political parties Elections

The Broad Front (Spanish: Frente Amplio) is a left-wing political party in Costa Rica, the main component of which is the Left Alternative Movement (Movimiento Alternativa de Izquierdas). They are defined by progressive, socialist and social justice ideas. The party is a member of the São Paulo Forum, part of the Latin American pink tide of democratic socialism.

History

In the 2006 general election, they won 1.1% of the legislative votes, and won one seat in the legislature, occupied by José Merino del Río. In the 2010 election they kept their seat, occupied by José María Villalta Florez-Estrada. Their presidential nominee was Eugenio Trejos Benavides, then the rector of the Costa Rica Institute of Technology. For the 2014 election the party's nominee was then-Congressman Villalta, who was receiving a lot of support according to the polls, something unusual in Costa Rica for a left-wing candidate, and even appearing in some as the frontrunner. Nevertheless, Villalta lost momentum after a negative campaign from right-wing party Libertarian Movement, and the Citizen's Action Party (PAC)'s recovery after its candidate Luis Guillermo Solís improved his image in the debates, attracting support from center-leftist voters.

Villalta ended third in the presidential race with 17% of the votes, below PLN's nominee Johnny Araya and PAC's Luis Guillermo Solís, but increased its parliamentary representation from one to nine seats. It also won one mayoral race in the 2016 municipal election in Barva and in alliance with PAC in Acosta and Montes de Oca.

During the 2014–2018 legislative period, the party suffered several minor scandals involving its deputies including Guanacaste's representative and former Catholic priest Ronal Vargas's resignation after being accused of sexual harassment, deputy Ligia Falla's use of her parliamentary office for alleged romantic encounters of her advisors, and domestic abuse accusations against two parties' deputies.

Electoral performance

Presidential

Election	Candidate	First round				Second round
		Votes	%	Position	Result	Votes	%	Position	Result
2010	Eugenio Trejos Benavides	6,822	0.37%	7th	Lost
2014	José María Villalta Florez-Estrada	354,479	17.25%	3rd	Lost
2018	Edgardo Araya Sibaja	16,862	0.78%	8th	Lost
2022	José María Villalta Florez-Estrada	182,789	8.73%	6th	Lost

Parliamentary

Election	Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Government
2006	No presidential candidate	17,751	1.10%	1 / 57	New	11th	Opposition
2010	Eugenio Trejos Benavides	68.987	3.66%	1 / 57	0	7th	Opposition
2014	José María Villalta Florez-Estrada	221,780	13.09%	9 / 57	8	3rd	Opposition
2018	Edgardo Araya Sibaja	84,437	3.95%	1 / 57	8	7th	Opposition
2022	José María Villalta Florez-Estrada	172,961	8.33%	6 / 57	5	6th	Opposition