Presidential candidate Rodolfo Hernandez resigns for the second time in a week
File photo.
October 10th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) The Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC)’s presidential candidate, and the leading opposition candidate according to polls, Rodolfo Hernandez resigned his party’s presidential nomination yesterday for the second time in a week.
After an intense war of words with the leadership of his political party, which captured the nation’s attention less than four months before the elections of February 2nd, Hernandez presented his resignation letter to party leadership.
The now former candidate said that this time is resignation is “irrevocable.”
Hernandez, a pediatrician and director of the National Children’s Hospital until a few months ago, appeared in late September in several polls as the opposition candidate most likely to beat the candidate of the ruling National Liberation Party (PLN), the former Mayor of San José, Johnny Araya.
Despite his good prospects, Hernandez resigned his candidacy for the first time last Thursday, accusing leaders of his own party of sabotaging his campaign.
Hernandez said he never thought he would find “so much [drama], so much jealousy, so much selfishness, so much betrayal and disloyalty” in his own party.
However, on Saturday Hernandez said he would take back the nomination on the condition that the entire Executive Committee of the party resign, including President Gerardo Vargas and Secretary General William Alvarado.
Most have failed to do so and remain in their posts. Hernandez, in yesterday’s resignation, said “they (the party leaders) thought they could play with me” and ignore his demands.
“The current leaders of the Social Christian Unity Party have ruined the dream of hundreds of thousands of Costa Ricans who believe in the fundamental values of the democratic system,” Hernandez said in his letter of resignation.
The PUSC has time to register a new presidential candidate until October 18th, when the registration period comes to an end.
The PUSC is one of the two traditional parties that have ruled Costa Rica for about four decades.
AFP contributed to this report.
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