Costa Rican general election, 1958

Costa Rican general election, 1958

February 2, 1958
Turnout	64%
Nominee Mario Echandi Jiménez Francisco Orlich Bolmarcich Jorge Rossi Chavarría Party National Union National Liberation Independent Home state San José Alajuela Cartago Popular vote 102,851 94,788 23,910 Percentage 46.4% 42.8% 10.8%
In green provinces won by Orlich, in blue Echandi
President before election José Figueres National Liberation Elected President Mario Echandi National Union

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General elections were held in Costa Rica on February 2, 1958.^[1] Mario Echandi Jiménez of the National Union Party won the presidential election, whilst the National Liberation Party won the parliamentary election. Voter turnout was 64.7%.^[2]

Echandi had become leader of the Opposition as he was elected congressman in 1953. During the tense invasion of 1955 when former president Rafael Angel Calderon's supporters and their international allies tried to invade Costa Rica’s territory and were successfully repelled by José Figueres’ government, Echandi was accused of been Calderonista and been offered an office as minister from Calderón.^[3] Echandi denied it but was put under investigation by the Legislative Assembly.^[3] The opposition, encompassed by both Echandi’s party National Union and Calderón’s Independent Republican left the Assembly in protest.^[3] Still Echandi was acquitted and the old loyalties before the war were starting to switch. Echandi as candidate from National Union promised to allow Calderón and family (then exiled in Mexico) to return to Costa Rica and give a general amnesty for all of Calderón’s supporters. This gained him the support of the Calderonism, still a powerful political base. ^[3]

But, whilst PLN’s opposition was closing lines, PLN was splitting. After a primary election that was won by Francisco José Orlich (one of PLN’s founders and one of the leaders of the 1948 Revolution) his opponent Jorge Rossi left the party and founded a new one called Independent Party.^[3] As expected, Rossi’s departure and his new party caused an spoiler effect dividing the Social Democratic vote and Echandi won the election with the support of Calderonists.^[3]

Echandi did fulfill his promise and allowed Calderón and family to return and passed a general amnesty for all factions. ^[3]

Results

President

Parliament

References

Elections and referendums in Costa Rica
Presidential elections	1844 1847 1853 1859 1860 1863 1866 1889 1893 1897 1901 1905 1909 1913 1917 1919 1923 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1953 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018
Parliamentary elections	1844 1847 1853 1859 1860 1863 1866 1889 1893 1897 1901 1905 1909 1913 1915 1917 1919 1921 1923 1925 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 (Feb) 1948 (Dec) 1949 1953 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018
Local elections	2002 2006 2010 2016
Referendums	1870 2007
See also: Elections in the Federal Republic of Central America