Our democratic tradition

An era of peaceful democracy in Costa Rica began in 1869 with elections considered the first truly free and honest ones in the country’s history.

Costa Rica has avoided much of the violence that has plagued much Central America. Since the late nineteenth century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. In 1917-19, Federico Tinoco Granados ruled as a dictator, and, in 1948, José Figueres Ferrer led an armed uprising in the wake of a disputed presidential election. In 1949, José Figueres Ferrer abolished the army; and since then, Costa Rica has been one of the few countries to operate within the democratic system without the assistance of a military.”

Now a little puzzle

And a video