Casas Steps Down as
Planning Minister, Will
Remain Firm As VP
Costa Rica's second
vice-president, Kevin
Casas, has temporarily
resigned from his post
as ministro de
Planificación (Planning
minister), amid an
investigation in the
possible use of public
funds to promote te "Si"
vote in the upcoming
referendum.
Rodrigo Arias, ministro
de la Presidencia and
brother to Costa Rican
president, Oscar Arias,
made the announcement
yesterday at Casa
Presidencial.
Arias said that he
accepted the apology by
Casas and will not be
asking the
vice-president to
resign.
Casas found himself in
hot water when a memo he
sent to president Arias
that suggested local
municipal authorities
should be threatened
with funding cuts if
they do not support the
"Si" vote in the October
7 referendum on the
Tratado de Libre
Comercio (TLC), was
leaked.
The investigation also
centres on legislator
Fernando Sánchez who
co-wrote the leaked
memo.
Minister Arias said that
Casas will remain at his
vice-presidential post
notwithstanding calls
for Casas' resignation
and make it clear that
neither he nor his
brother share the
opinions expressed in
the memo.
"The government firmly
rejects the suggestions
and consider them
contrary to our way of
participation in the
referendum and the basic
principles of
democracy", said Arias.
A telephone poll by
local television news
Telenoticias last night
found that almost 80% of
the callers wanted Casas
to step down from the
vice-presidency.
Costa Ricans will be
voting on Sunday October
7 to decide on the
future of the trade deal
with the United States.
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