MANUEL MORA VALVERDE

August 27, 1908 (age 86)

San José, Alajuela, Costa Rica

During the 1930s as a champion of electoral reform and individual freedoms in opposition to strongman President León Cortés Castro, the Communist Party gained prestige. It also built a base in the new labor movement. With defeat of the government in the 1948 civil war, the Communist Party was outlawed, and Mora spent a period in exile. After a brief hiatus, the Communists continued to participate in elections under different labels. After returning to Costa Rica, Mora resumed his leadership of the party and was elected to Congress several times. In 1983 Manuel Mora was finally removed as secretary general of the PVP, which provoked a split in the party.

MANUEL MORA VALVERDE Edit Profile

government official politician

Background

Manuel Mora Valverde was born in San Jose on 27 August 1908.

Career

During the 1930s as a champion of electoral reform and individual freedoms in opposition to strongman President León Cortés Castro, the Communist Party gained prestige. It also built a base in the new labor movement.

With defeat of the government in the 1948 civil war, the Communist Party was outlawed, and Mora spent a period in exile. After a brief hiatus, the Communists continued to participate in elections under different labels. After returning to Costa Rica, Mora resumed his leadership of the party and was elected to Congress several times.

In 1983 Manuel Mora was finally removed as secretary general of the PVP, which provoked a split in the party.

Achievements

Mora enjoyed his greatest success during the 1940s, when he supported Presidents Rafael Angel Calderón Guardia (1940-1944), and Teodoro Picado Michalski (1944-1948), in achieving significant social reforms. Changing the party’s name to Popular Vanguard (PVP), Mora formed the Victory Bloc with the ruling National Republican Party. He served in the national Congress as an effective spokesperson for his party.

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