National Liberation Party (PLN) legislator Fernando Sánchez resigned yesterday from two legislative commissions over a controversial memo he wrote to President Oscar Arias. Sánchez was president of the two commissions – the Electoral Reform Commission and the Commission on the Development Bank Law.
The memo, co-written by Second Vice-President Kevin Casas, suggested questionable and potentially illegal tactics in the government's campaign for the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA). On Saturday, Casas announced his resignation from his posts as Vice-President and Planning Minister.
Liberation faction head Mayí Antillón said the party was “satisfied” that Sánchez was taking this “important” step. The fraction must now choose a new legislator to serve on the commissions, which must elect new presidents.
“Let's now turn the page and leave this memorandum behind,” she said. “We must close this chapter and focus on what is really important – the 15 days we have to put CAFTA in its proper light.”
The country is nearly evenly divided between pro- and anti-CAFTA voters, according to a poll conducted by Unimer and published yesterday by the daily La Nación. Conducted the week of Sept. 12, the poll found that 49.1% of respondents said they would vote for CAFTA and 46.3% would vote against the treaty.
“We have seen the results of the poll,” said Presidency Minister Rodrigo Arias, who is the President's brother. “I think in politics you have to be realistic, and the memorandum has had a negative impact on pro-CAFTA sentiment.” |
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