La revocatoria de mandato en el ámbito municipal costarricense. Período 1998-2021
Fecha
2022
Tipo
tesis doctoral
Autores
Fernández Argüello, Hubert
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Resumen
Esta investigación, analiza la revocatoria de mandato de alcaldes, alcaldesas e intendentes, en Costa Rica; institución de la democracia participativa, por cuyo medio, el cuerpo electoral puede destituir, mediante votación, a un funcionario público, antes de que expire el período para el que fue electo. El trabajo, abarca un período que va desde la instauración de esa figura a nivel legal, en 1998, hasta el año 2021.
El estudio, es de tipo cualitativo y se apoya en las herramientas propias de los métodos hermenéuticos, histórico-analíticos y de estudio de caso. Sus resultados se plasman en seis capítulos: el Capítulo I, analiza los instrumentos de la democracia participativa y el proceso histórico para su consolidación actual; el II, aborda los principios generales de la institución revocatoria, su reconocimiento en el ámbito comparado (básicamente latinoamericano), la distinción de ésta con otras figuras similares y las críticas y apoyos al instituto.
Los capítulos subsiguientes, abordan su regulación en el ordenamiento costarricense; sus antecedentes históricos, naturaleza jurídica y fundamento constitucional. Por tratarse de un asunto que se da, exclusivamente, a escala municipal, se incorpora un acápite sobre la organización municipal y las razones por las cuales, a partir de las características y dinámica propia de los municipios, éstos se constituyen en el espacio idóneo para el pleno desarrollo de la figura.
Asimismo, se revisa ampliamente el procedimiento por el que discurre la aplicación de la revocatoria, en todas sus etapas y se estudian, minuciosamente, los 3 únicos casos de aplicación práctica del instituto, en Costa Rica, acaecidos durante el período que comprende la investigación.
El estudio concluye, que la revocatoria de mandato es un mecanismo de profunda raigambre democrática, nutrido de los principios que inspiran a la democracia participativa y que amplía los medios al alcance del cuerpo electoral, para intervenir en la gestión de los asuntos públicos, mediante el enjuiciamiento político y particular de una persona funcionaria de elección popular; aunque aún se encuentra en un proceso de mejora, perfeccionamiento y consolidación.
En en el ordenamiento costarricense, el instituto se admite de manera muy limitada; se reserva exclusivamente al ámbito municipal y se incorporó en la ley, sin un proceso previo y amplio de deliberación en los ámbitos jurídicos políticos y sociales.
Varias barreras impiden su consolidación; entre ellas, la dispersión normativa, las limitaciones en cuanto a los sujetos legitimados para gestionar el inicio de la revocatoria de mandato; las mayorías necesarias para que se acuerde la convocatoria al plebiscito y la imposibilidad de la ciudadanía de solicitar el inicio del procedimiento.
Se propone, la aprobación de una ley especial sobre el tema y se fijan los parámetros y contenidos básicos de ésta, los que pueden servir de insumo, tanto en la labor legislativa, como en futuras investigaciones sobre esta temática.
This investigation analyzes the recall of mayors and intendants in Costa Rica; a participatory democratic State, through which the electorate can remove, through voting, a public official before the end of their term. It covers a period that goes from the establishment of the recall process at the legal level since 1998, until the year 2021. The study is qualitative and is supported by the tools of hermeneutical methods, historical- analytical and case study methods. Its results are portrayed in six chapters: Chapter I, analyzes the instruments of participatory democracy and the historical process for its current consolidation. Chapter II addresses general recall principals, its recognition in the comparative field (Latin American basically), its distinction with other similar recall processes and the criticisms and support to their institution. The subsequent chapters address its regulation in Costa Rican legislation, its historical background, judicial nature, and constitutional basis. Since this is an issue that occurs exclusively at the municipal level, a chapter on municipal organization is included, and the reasons why, (based on the characteristics and specific dynamics of the municipalities) these constitute the ideal setting for the full development of the recall process. The procedure for the application of the revocation, is extensively reviewed in all its stages. The only 3 cases of practical application of the process in Costa Rica, all occurred during the period covered by the research and are studied in detail. The work concludes that the recall mandate is a mechanism with deep democratic roots. It is nourished by the principles that inspire participatory democracy and expands the means available to the electoral body, to intervene in the management of public affairs, through the impeachment and private prosecution of a publicly elected official, even though it is still in a process of improvement, refinement, and consolidation. In the Costa Rican legal system, the recall process is applied in a very limited way. It is reserved exclusively to the municipal level and was incorporated into the law without a prior and broad process of deliberation in the judicial, political, and social fields. Several barriers prevent its consolidation; among them, the dispersion of regulations, the limitations as to the entitled parties to manage the beginning of the recall; the majority necessary to agree on the call for the plebiscite and the impossibility for citizens to request the initiation of the procedure. The approval of a special law on the subject is proposed and that its basic parameters and contents be established. This can serve as input both in legislative work and in future research on this subject.
This investigation analyzes the recall of mayors and intendants in Costa Rica; a participatory democratic State, through which the electorate can remove, through voting, a public official before the end of their term. It covers a period that goes from the establishment of the recall process at the legal level since 1998, until the year 2021. The study is qualitative and is supported by the tools of hermeneutical methods, historical- analytical and case study methods. Its results are portrayed in six chapters: Chapter I, analyzes the instruments of participatory democracy and the historical process for its current consolidation. Chapter II addresses general recall principals, its recognition in the comparative field (Latin American basically), its distinction with other similar recall processes and the criticisms and support to their institution. The subsequent chapters address its regulation in Costa Rican legislation, its historical background, judicial nature, and constitutional basis. Since this is an issue that occurs exclusively at the municipal level, a chapter on municipal organization is included, and the reasons why, (based on the characteristics and specific dynamics of the municipalities) these constitute the ideal setting for the full development of the recall process. The procedure for the application of the revocation, is extensively reviewed in all its stages. The only 3 cases of practical application of the process in Costa Rica, all occurred during the period covered by the research and are studied in detail. The work concludes that the recall mandate is a mechanism with deep democratic roots. It is nourished by the principles that inspire participatory democracy and expands the means available to the electoral body, to intervene in the management of public affairs, through the impeachment and private prosecution of a publicly elected official, even though it is still in a process of improvement, refinement, and consolidation. In the Costa Rican legal system, the recall process is applied in a very limited way. It is reserved exclusively to the municipal level and was incorporated into the law without a prior and broad process of deliberation in the judicial, political, and social fields. Several barriers prevent its consolidation; among them, the dispersion of regulations, the limitations as to the entitled parties to manage the beginning of the recall; the majority necessary to agree on the call for the plebiscite and the impossibility for citizens to request the initiation of the procedure. The approval of a special law on the subject is proposed and that its basic parameters and contents be established. This can serve as input both in legislative work and in future research on this subject.
Descripción
Palabras clave
Revocatoria de mandato, legitimidad democrática, democracia electoral representativa, plebiscito revocatorio, democracia participativa, referendo, iniciativa popular, democracia directa, juicio político, municipalidades, organización municipal, responsabilidad política, alcaldía municipal, alcalde, intendente, impeachment, recall, PARTICIPACIÓN COMUNITARIA, RESPONSABILIDAD