Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia

Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia was a prominent Costa Rican politician who served as president from 1940 to 1944. He was the father of Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier, who later became president as well. During his presidency, Calderón Guardia formed a notable coalition with the communist Popular Vanguard Party and the Catholic Church to advance workers' rights and social security programs. This period also saw a political crisis in 1948, involving an attempt to prevent the seating of the president-elect, Otilio Ulate, which led to a brief civil war. Ultimately, a compromise was reached, and a new constitution was established in 1949, which included provisions for women's suffrage and the abolition of the army.123