For the first time, a poll is showing a majority of Costa Ricans opposing the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA), according to the daily La Nacion.

The paper yesterday reported that 55% of the 1,202 Costa Ricans polled will say no to CAFTA during Sunday's referendum, while 43% will vote yes and 2% are undecided.

Support for CAFTA has eroded during the past few weeks, hurt by a scandal surrounding former Second Vice-President Kevin Casas and National Liberation Party legislator Fernando Sánchez. Both men sent an e-mail to President Oscar Arias encouraging a campaign of fear to gain support for the trade agreement (TT, Sept. 14).

Casas resigned last week, and Sánchez stepped down from his posts on legislative commissions although he continues serving in the Legislative Assembly.  

The poll, conducted by the agency Unimer for La Nación, also found that 27% of those interviewed made their decision to vote no this past month. Moreover, 7% said the memorandum directly affected their decision.

Last week's polls showed a virtual tie; this is the first time in the more than two years of campaigning that the “no” vote has taken the lead.

The poll has a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points and was conducted between Sept. 27 and Oct. 2 throughout the country with people 18 years and older.

-Tico Times