Calderón Charges Prompt Mixed Reaction
The formal charges presented by the Ministerio Público against former president, Rafael Ángel Calderón (1990-1994, has caused mixed reaction among Costa Ricans.

Calderón and seven others are charged with corruption in the case known as CCSS-Fischel, where million of dollars from a multi million dollar loan from the government of Finland to the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) to purchase medical equipment, allegedly went to the pockers of Calderón, the former CCSS president, Fischel pharamacies directors and a others.

The story broke out when Eliseo Vargas, president of the CCSS in 2004, was living in a luxurious home purchased by the Corporación Fischel and also revealed that Vargas was a legislative deputy at the time the loan was approved, in the record time of three days, by the Legislature.

Fischel was the representative in Costa Rica for the vendor of the medical equipment, most of which is not in working order today, on purchases that were made not on the needs of the hospitals and clinics but on the recommendation of the seller.

Calderón last week announced that he will seek the re-election in the 2010 presidential race, feeling that he will be vindicated at trial.