Outgoing Deputies Scold President Pacheco Over 2002 Election Campaign Irregularities
Closing the 2002-2006 legislative session, deputies took one last stab at president Abel Pacheco, scolding him for irregularities during his 2002 election campaign, which was never cleared up.

In the last minutes of the last session, deputies threw accusations at the president, mainly for his attitude in not co-operating with the legislative investigation, which deputies felt it was an obligation on his part as president.

Many different deputies from all parties (except the PUSC, Pacheco's party) had harsh words for the president and the controversy over a us$400.000 donation to his campaign not reported to the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE).

For his part, in a separate action, second vice-president, Luis Fishman, who was sanctioned by Pacheco at the beginning of his administration and never allowed to carry out his official function, made his own declarations to the media, fueling more controversy.

The deputies also referenced monies (us$200.000) related to the controversy surrounding former president Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, who has maintained all along that it was a repayment of debt by his party.

In conclusion, the deputies who made up the "Comisión Especial investigadora del Financiamiento de los Partidos Políticos y las Donaciones" said they will make all related documents available to the Ministerio Público, which will now be up to judicial entity to decide if an investigation is warranted.