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2007 Costa Rican Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement referendum

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2007 Costa Rican DR–CAFTA referendum
7 October 2007
Do you approve of the Dominican Republic, Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement?
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 805,658 51.56%
No 756,814 48.44%
Valid votes 1,562,472 99.35%
Invalid or blank votes 10,212 0.65%
Total votes 1,572,684 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 2,654,627 59.24%
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A referendum on the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) was held in Costa Rica on 7 October 2007. It was originally to be held on 23 September 2007, but it was postponed on 5 June 2007 due to a court challenge.[1] Opinion polls from April, July and August 2007 suggested that a majority of voters were in favour,[2][3] while a poll from June saw a majority against.[4] It was ultimately approved by 51.56% of voters.[5]

The movement against the CAFTA Referendum in Costa Rica brought many members of the Citizens' Action Party to national politics. Several anti-CAFTA organizers have been elected to the Legislative Assembly.

Party positions

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Several parties and organizations held a position against CAFTA. These parties were: Citizens' Action, Broad Front, Social Christian Unity, Accessibility without Exclusion, National Integration, People's Vanguard, National Rescue, Costa Rican Renewal and a sector of National Liberation known as Liberacionistas contra el TLC (Liberationists against CAFTA). Other organizations that endorsed the "No" vote include nearly all trade unions (APSE, ANDE, SEC, ANEP, FIT-ICE, UNDECA, SINDEU), environmentalists (APREFLOFAS, Coecoceiba, FECON),[6] Costa Rica Firefighter Corps, the Lutheran Costa Rican Church, the LGBT Rights movement, and the Cámara de Empresarios Pro-Costa Rica (Pro-Costa Rica Chamber of Commerce). Other organizations against the free trade agreement include the students' federation of all four public universities and their respective rectors;[7] the movement itself (Patriotic Movement Against CAFTA) was directed by Costa Rica Institute of Technology rector Eugenio Trejoses

National Liberation Party, Libertarian Movement, National Union Party, and National Restoration Party were in favor of Costa Rica's entry to CAFTA, as so was the majority of Social Christian Unity's congressmen in that legislature. Almost all commerce chambers that made up the Union of Commerce Chambers and Private Enterprise Associations (UCCAEP) also voiced their support for the "Yes" vote. The official movement was called the Citizens' Alliance for Yes and it was led by one of the government's ministers, Alfredo Volio Escalante.[8]

Position Political parties Ideology Political position
Yes National Liberation Party Social Democracy Centre to Centre-left
Libertarian Movement Libertarianism, Neoliberalism Right-wing
National Restoration Party Christian Right Right-wing
National Union Party Liberalism Centre-right
No
Citizens' Action Party Progressivism Centre-left
Social Christian Unity Party Christian Democracy Centre-right
Broad Front Democratic Socialism Left-wing
Accessibility without Exclusion Disability rights Centre-right to centre-left
People's Vanguard Party Communism Far-left
Costa Rican Renewal Party Christian conservatism Centre-right to centre-left
National Integration Party Syncretic, Conservatism Right-wing to centre-left

Results

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According to the Electoral Supreme Tribunal, the referendum was approved by voters in San Jose, Cartago, Heredia, and Limon provinces. Meanwhile, a majority of voters in Alajuela, Guanacaste and Puntarenas provinces rejected the proposal.[9]

ChoiceVotes%
For805,65851.56
Against756,81448.44
Total1,562,472100.00
Valid votes1,562,47299.35
Invalid/blank votes10,2120.65
Total votes1,572,684100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,654,62759.24
Source: Direct Democracy

By canton

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Region Electorate Voter turnout,
of eligible 		Votes Proportion of votes
For Against For Against
   San José Province 966,817 61.69% 308,229 288,195 51.68% 48.32%
  San José 224,414 61.19% 75,840 61,490 55.22% 44.78%
  Escazú 37,440 67.48% 15,052 10,210 59.58% 40.42%
  Desamparados 136,790 60.69% 42,248 40,768 50.89% 49.11%
  Puriscal 22,450 59.99% 6,216 7,251 46.16% 53.84%
  Tarrazú 9,647 54.79% 2,550 2,678 48.78% 51.22%
  Aserrí 34,712 59.20% 9,001 11,548 43.80% 56.20%
  Mora 15,626 60.83% 4,819 4,686 50.70% 49.30%
  Goicoechea 83,770 62.80% 26,975 25,629 51.28% 48.72%
  Santa Ana 24,917 65.45% 9,461 6,846 58.02% 41.98%
  Alajuelita 42,193 56.15% 11,978 11,713 50.56% 49.44%
  Vázquez de Coronado 41,276 66.93% 14,717 12,909 53.27% 46.73%
  Acosta 13,143 60.12% 2,340 5,562 29.61% 70.39%
  Tibás 55,642 64.93% 20,218 15,911 55.96% 44.04%
  Moravia 37,743 68.24% 14,442 11,315 56.07% 43.93%
  Montes de Oca 40,446 70.78% 15,055 13,573 52.59% 47.41%
  Turrubares 3,787 61.76% 1,286 1,053 54.98% 45.02%
  Dota 4,480 56.79% 961 1,583 37.78% 62.22%
  Curridabat 41,983 65.65% 16,273 11,288 59.04% 40.96%
  Pérez Zeledón 88,960 52.61% 16,928 29,875 36.17% 63.83%
  León Cortés 7,398 56.42% 1,869 2,305 44.78% 55.22%
   Alajuela Province 487,734 62.05% 148,044 154,587 48.92% 51.08%
  Alajuela 161,455 61.45% 56,515 42,695 56.97% 43.03%
  San Ramón 49,052 66.70% 9,195 23,524 28.10% 71.90%
  Grecia 46,746 65.88% 17,844 12,951 57.94% 42.06%
  San Mateo 3,551 59.81% 1,128 996 53.11% 46.89%
  Atenas 16,108 69.26% 4,009 7,148 35.93% 64.07%
  Naranjo 25,971 63.62% 8,037 8,487 48.64% 51.36%
  Palmares 23,049 71.91% 6,531 10,041 39.41% 60.59%
  Poás 16,605 68.80% 7,239 4,185 63.37% 36.63%
  Orotina 11,622 54.35% 3,721 2,596 58.90% 41.10%
  San Carlos 79,104 59.25% 21,746 25,126 46.39% 53.61%
  Zarcero 7,269 72.39% 2,227 3,035 42.32% 57.68%
  Valverde Vega 11,754 61.30% 3,729 3,476 51.76% 48.24%
  Upala 19,332 45.20% 3,133 5,606 35.85% 64.15%
  Los Chiles 8,315 47.32% 1,152 2,783 29.28% 70.72%
  Guatuso 7,801 47.32% 1,838 1,938 48.68% 51.32%
   Cartago Province 307,819 63.08% 109,644 84,542 56.46% 43.54%
  Cartago 98,885 66.86% 38,814 27,297 58.71% 41.29%
  Paraíso 36,399 62.19% 12,361 10,275 54.61% 45.39%
  La Unión 53,833 62.21% 17,634 15,584 52.66% 47.34%
  Jiménez 9,843 65.28% 3,832 2,594 59.63% 40.37%
  Turrialba 48,758 55.94% 14,532 12,921 52.62% 47.38%
  Alvarado 7,796 59.66% 2,610 2,041 56.12% 43.88%
  Oreamuno 27,736 63.59% 9,685 7,591 54.92% 45.08%
  El Guarco 24,569 64.98% 10,356 5,609 64.87% 35.13%
   Heredia Province 307,819 63.08% 109,644 84,542 56.46% 43.54%
  Heredia 79,764 66.67% 29,443 23,733 55.37% 44.63%
  Barva 24,782 70.15% 7,839 9,546 45.09% 54.91%
  Santo Domingo 28,056 69.57% 10,591 8,928 54.26% 45.74%
  Santa Bárbara 20,436 67.17% 6,502 7,218 47.39% 52.61%
  San Rafael 27,049 65.67% 8,267 9,495 46.54% 53.46%
  San Isidro 11,764 66.35% 4,004 3,802 51.29% 48.71%
  Belén 14,547 72.06% 6,859 3,624 65.43% 34.57%
  Flores 12,210 71.14% 5,182 3,504 59.66% 40.34%
  San Pablo 16,188 69.01% 5,709 5,462 51.11% 48.89%
  Sarapiquí 23,403 48.70% 5,228 6,169 45.87% 54.13%
   Guanacaste Province 182,208 49.45% 43,051 47,962 47.30% 52.70%
  Liberia 33,396 44.35% 6,718 8,094 45.36% 54.64%
  Nicoya 33,324 51.86% 7,065 9,698 42.15% 57.85%
  Santa Cruz 30,360 47.51% 6,727 7,697 46.64% 53.36%
  Bagaces 10,051 52.40% 2,004 3,263 38.05% 61.95%
  Carrillo 17,715 46.75% 5,045 3,236 60.92% 39.08%
  Cañas 16,097 50.03% 4,138 3,916 51.38% 48.62%
  Abangares 10,624 55.76% 2,605 3,319 43.97% 56.03%
  Tilarán 12,264 60.62% 3,535 3,900 47.55% 52.45%
  Nandayure 6,770 57.50% 2,197 1,696 56.43% 43.57%
  La Cruz 8,043 42.78% 1,874 1,567 54.46% 45.54%
  Hojancha 4,564 59.57% 1,143 1,576 42.04% 57.96%
   Puntarenas Province 241,824 47.01% 55,909 57,774 49.18% 50.82%
  Puntarenas 72,060 48.57% 19,378 15,625 55.36% 44.64%
  Esparza 16,825 57.88% 5,131 4,607 52.69% 47.31%
  Buenos Aires 24,238 48.44% 4,757 6,983 40.52% 59.48%
  Montes de Oro 7,999 60.51% 2,311 2,529 47.75% 52.25%
  Osa 16,901 42.00% 3,547 3,552 49.96% 50.04%
  Quepos 14,895 43.55% 3,323 3,164 51.23% 48.77%
  Golfito 22,925 41.76% 4,211 5,363 43.98% 56.02%
  Coto Brus 24,953 43.45% 4,150 6,693 38.27% 61.73%
  Parrita 8,418 44.39% 2,315 1,422 61.95% 38.05%
  Corredores 25,150 44.69% 4,565 6,675 40.61% 59.39%
  Garabito 7,460 45.34% 2,221 1,161 65.67% 34.33%
   Limón Province 210,026 44.48% 51,157 42,273 54.75% 45.25%
  Limón 58,892 41.63% 12,764 11,753 52.06% 47.94%
  Pococí 67,001 48.42% 17,154 15,289 52.87% 47.13%
  Siquirres 32,141 41.67% 8,984 4,410 67.07% 32.93%
  Talamanca 13,722 43.97% 1,784 4,249 29.57% 70.43%
  Matina 17,051 44.52% 5,017 2,574 66.09% 33.91%
  Guácimo 21,219 44.54% 5,454 3,998 57.70% 42.30%
Source: TSE

References

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  1. ^ CAFTA Referendum in Costa Rica Postponed Archived 2008-11-18 at the Wayback Machine The Tico Times, 6 June 2007.
  2. ^ Many Costa Ricans Still Favour CAFTA Archived 2008-01-01 at the Wayback Machine Angus Reid Global Monitor, 1 August 2007
  3. ^ Costa Rican Voters Would Ratify CAFTA[permanent dead link‍] Angus Reid Global Monitor, 6 August 2007
  4. ^ Most Decided Voters Oppose CAFTA in Costa Rica Archived 2007-10-27 at the Wayback Machine Angus Reid Global Monitor, 7 August 2007
  5. ^ Costa Rica, 7 October 2007: Free trade agreement with Central America and the U.S. Direct Democracy (in German)
  6. ^ "Ecologistas contra el TLC". 15 August 2006.
  7. ^ "Nutrida participación de universitarios en marcha contra TLC".
  8. ^ "Movimiento Solidarista Costarricense pierde afiliación por posición a favor del TLC". 3 July 2007.
  9. ^ Results in Absolute and Relative Numbers for the Referendum 2007 Archived 2007-12-27 at the Wayback Machine Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones
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