Background
Otilio Ulate was born on 25 August 1892 in Alajuela.
Otilio Ulate was born on 25 August 1892 in Alajuela.
As editor and publisher of Diario de Costa Rica, he had opposed the rule of Rafael Angel Calderón Guardia, who, in addition to authoritarian tendencies, was enlarging the role of the state through the enactment of social reforms that Ulate opposed. When Calderón sought to return to office in 1948, a broad spectrum of political forces supported Ulate against him. When Calderón attempted to annul Ulate's victory, the same forces successfully rose up in arms.
The victorious rebels, led by José Figueres Ferrer, representing the Social Democrats, did not install Ulate in the presidency immediately. Figueres led the Founding Junta of the Second Republic for 18 months (May 1948-November 1949), preserving Calderon’s social reforms, inaugurating new economic programs, and drafting the constitution of 1949. When Ulate finally assumed the presidency, Costa Rica had been changed vastly.
As president ( 1949-1953), Ulate became a bitter enemy of Figueres. However, Figueres respected the traditions of Costa Rican democracy, and Ulate abided by the constitution that had been imposed on him. Figueres formed the National Liberation party (PLN) in 1951 and became president in 1953.
Ulate spent the remainder of his political career in opposition to Figueres and the PLN. He ran for president again in 1962 and was soundly defeated. He joined with his former enemy Calderón in the National Unification coalition in 1966, which backed the successful candidacy of José Joaquín Trejos. Four years later, however, when Figueres was reelected, he appointed Ulate ambassador to Spain. Ulate held that position at the time of his death.