Costa Rica's government announced its co-hosting of the Second Summit for Democracy.

Attendees and additional co-hosting countries include the governments of the U.S., the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Zambia.

According to the U.S. Embassy, the summit will be held simultaneously from March 29 to 30. 

"We are living through an era defined by challenges to accountable and transparent governance. From wars of aggression to changes in climate, societal mistrust and technological transformation, it could not be clearer that all around the world, democracy needs champions at all levels," the U.S. Embassy said in its statement. "Together with other invitees to the second Summit, we look forward to taking up this call, and demonstrating how transparent, accountable governance remains the best way to deliver lasting prosperity, peace, and justice."

The second Summit for Democracy will assemble world leaders in a virtual, plenary format, followed by hybrid gatherings in each host country with representatives from government, civil society, and the private sector.  

Costa Rica is a country with more than 100 years of democracy. Since November 1942, the country has honored Costa Ricans who came out with arms to defend the presidential elections in 1889.

According to the Institute for Training and Studies in Democracy, in 1889, two political parties, the Liberals and the Conservatives met in presidential elections.

"On the one hand, there was the Progressive Liberal Party that promoted the candidacy of Ascención Esquivel, who was already part of the government," the institute said. "On the other side, there was the Democratic Constitutional Party, whose candidate was José Joaquín Rodríguez."

The president of Costa Rica at that time was Bernardo Soto, who decided to impose the government candidate Ascención Esquivel, who was, at that time, the second appointed to the presidency, something like a current vice president.

However, the results of the primary elections favored the opposition candidate, José Joaquín Rodríguez, as president.

"When the people knew that their will would be disrespected, they rejected the imposition of a president. Then, seven thousand Costa Ricans, organized and armed with sticks and machetes, went out into the streets willing to assert their will and demand respect for election results," the institute added.

Instead of unleashing violence, then President Soto quit as president. He left his position to the second in the government, Carlos Durán. Then, Durán ruled for six months until Rodríguez, who won the presidential election, took office.

Although "after that date, there were new electoral frauds and even dictatorships, however, Nov. 7, 1889, is considered the Day of Costa Rican Democracy, because, for the first time, the people rose in arms to demand that they respect the criteria issued at the polls," the institute said.

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