Within four weeks, US citizens will choose Barack Obama’s successor. These elections have not gone unnoticed. Republican candidate Donald Trump has been in the eye of the controversy due to his constant attacks to minority groups and his radical ideas.
After their last debate, both Trump and democratic candidate Hillary Clinton were negatively criticized. However, the latter is the one who has greater acceptance from political analysts, both inside and outside the United States.
But why should Costa Rican citizens be interested in the American elections?
Gustavo Araya, political scientist, explained that there are 3 main reasons why people cannot overlook such presidential elections:
-Historical reasons: the US has had a great influence and intereference in Central America regarding the governments that have been elected in the region. Central America was always the place where politicians debated during the Cold War and it is still part of the force and power balance worldwide.
-Economic reasons: The signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was an important milestone, because relations between the US and Central America were established.
-Logistical reasons: On issues of strategy, humanitarian aid, cooperation, Costa Rica recently received one of the most important historical aid to fight drug trafficking and that help came from the United States. Costa Rica is important in the issue of security, migration, drug trafficking. If America gets pneumonia, Costa Rica gets a terrible cold.
Jeffrey Orozco, Director of the International Center for Economic Policy for Sustainable Development (CINPE) from the National University (UNA), declared that exports and foreign investment are the most important interests in both countries.
We need to remember that as a country we have a very close economic relations with the United States. Whatever happens in the American economy affects, somehow, the exchange and interest rate worldwide,
stated Orozco.
According to him, if Donald Trump won, this could generate a lot of expectation on several subjects. If Hillary Clinton was the winner, Orozco thinks there would be more continuity to the type of relationship that both countries have had.