Citizen Action Party (PAC) legislator Sadie Bravo announced yesterday that she will resign from the Legislative Assembly to help her daughter, who lives in the United States and will give birth late next month.
She will step down Oct. 7, the day Costa Ricans will vote on the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) in a national referendum.
“Doña Sadie has impeccable ethics,” said PAC faction head Elizabeth Fonseca, who thanked her on the assembly floor today for her 16-month service. “All of us who are mothers can understand this situation that she is living.”
Bravo said she was resigning – instead of requesting a leave of absence – because she did not want to leave her post vacant, even for a few weeks.
Her replacement is Patricia Romero, a 45-year-old lawyer from San Carlos, in north-central Costa Rica.
“I knew I was on the list (of potential legislators), but I never imagined it would be something so fast,” Romero said. “I think that economically, I am going to lose. But as a Costa Rican citizen, I'll win.”
Bravo, who is president of the Special Commission on Science and Technology, rejected suggestions that she was leaving because of differences with other party members. She said she wanted to help take care of her 1-year-old grandchild while her daughter gives birth to a second child. Bravo has offered to be an honorary advisor to PAC after she returns from the United States.
Legislative president Francisco Pacheco, of the National Liberation Party (PLN), thanked Bravo for her service. “I admire you,” he said. “At times, for obvious reasons, we have had differences, but I think they have been minimal.” |
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