Yesterday first woman was elected for a President in Costa Rica - 50 years old Laura Chinchilla (szynszyl in Polish). I wanted to write a few words about her campaign, since she is just the 5th female President in history of Latin America. While searching for candidates I was becoming more and more surprised, discovering how vivid, spectacular, and most of all - funny was the campaign in Costa Rica. Competition between candidates was more straightforward and witty than anything we can observe in our so called 'experienced democracies' in Europe or in US. The main cultural difference however is the extend of which politicians keep one's distance and are ready to make fun of themselves.
Pregnant woman singing for candidate, walking half-naked in the advertisement, or 'flying heads' are just some of the ideas. Take a look on the one of the most important socialists candidate -Otto Solis's spot against Laura Chinchilla:
Similar spots presenting other candidates as marionettes were supposed to uncover their incompetency. Laura didn't have an easy life during the campaign as she was even compared to Hitler by her opponents, but due to my lack of knowledge of Spanish I only present those spots who speak through an image.
Generally the campaign seem to be very bright, colorful and musical. Flying heads seem to match the Costarican aesthetics. This is the spot of Otto Guevara (no proved bonds with Che Guevara) - libertarian candidate who promoted the idea of as little of state apparatus as possible.
The same candidate in another spot, is showing half-naked man explaining that 'It's the only way not to get robbed on the street':
But the most truly surprising spot for me was the one of Luis Fishman - social Christian candidate. Yes, that's him wearing a diper and holding a bottle-feed. Enjoy.
Chinchilla :)
OdpowiedzUsuńThese kind of videos remind me of the "funny politics" campaign in Germany a few years ago.
But to be honest, the content of those parodies is quite serious and interesting. No stupid things here. They talk about the stuff that matters to the people. I must say I'm quite surprised.
It also surprises me how a woman has been able to get elected president in such a male-oriented country as Costa Rica (and the rest of countries around it). She hasn't used any pro-women speaking, and, more important, the whole campaign has been free of the usual populist, incendiary and demagogic expressions and motives typical of the spanish-speaking America.
That's why I completely agree with the comment about the "experienced democracies" of Europe or the US. This was serious business in Costa Rica. And no one expected such maturity about it. Well, europe giving lessons...
Thank you for your comment Raul. I'm glad that some Spanish speaker enclosed us the content of this ads. A friend of mine thought it's a joke or a comedy when he saw it, but apparently it's not. I have very little information about how she reached Presidency in this male-oriented country. I know that she is the current vice-president, the leader of social democrats Partido Liberación Nacional, and that she will assure the continuation of former President - Oscar Arias policy, including good relations with US. The victory of any other candidate would mean a rapid turn in right (Guevara) or left (Solis). Maybe the people of Costa Rica have chosen a golden merit and the fact that she was a woman was of minor importance?
OdpowiedzUsuńBTW, can you also translate what do these women sing? please;-)
I will vote for Luis
OdpowiedzUsuńMy baby will be born soon
The least bad candidate is the best.
That's why I'm going to vote for him
He is the best. Realist. Sincere. Without double intentions.
I will vote for Luís. I will support the least bad.
I will celebrate his victory with flags and honking my car.
I'm going to follow him. For him I will vote.
He is the best one!
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The line that says "the least bad is the best one" in spanish is sooo sarcastic. Deeply ironic, yet very sincere. Interesting.
Alu, I'm just going to say a few words about the guy running around naked in the streets of San Jose. Every country has its issues, in CR one of the most important ones is the crime level. It seems funny to look at, but it's not when you actually live there... Walking around in your underwear keeps you away from troubles, nobody has a reason to assault you... Btw what a shame I didn't do that when I lived there ;)
OdpowiedzUsuńI'll ask my Costa Rican friend to comment on your post. He hates Laura tho so don't believe in everything he says :)
Gosia
Gosiu thank you for your comment as from someone who know CS and it's specifics. I'm an ignorant to be honest. I can only judge from my deeply Europe-centric point of view, but I'm curious about this country. I'm actually positively surprised by their way of presenting political program. How many candidates for President in Poland were advertising on you-tube? Even if Laura is just a corrupted Arias's marionette, I somehow like her aesthetics. It's sad but to some extend you can win the election through aesthetics (in her case, Church support was also important from what I've read). What do you think Gosia's Costa Rican friend? ;-)
OdpowiedzUsuńAla, bardzo ciekawy post :) Szkoda, ze spoznilam sie na boliwijskie wybory, mysle ze styl mogl byc podobny. Nie zdziwilabym sie gdyby Evo tanczyl na swoich spotach (w niedziele np. ma tanczyc na karnawale w La Paz :). Oj, w Boliwii to w ogole bys miala o czym pisac :)
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