Arias Will Govern By
Cell Phone and Email
While Out Of The Country
In an unusual move,
Costa Rican president,
Oscar Arias, said that
he would not delegate
the presidency while he
is away in El Salvador
and Mexico on a trip
that he leaves this
morning and returns
Saturdays evening.
Normally the presidency
is delegated to the
vice-president, Laura
Chinchilla, while the
prez is away from the
country. However, doña
Laura is also not in
Costa Rica, and the
delegation would fall to
the president of the
Legislative Assembly,
Francisco Antonio
Pacheco, as is
stipulated in the
political constitution
of the country.
Arias said that since
his trip is a short one
he felt no need to
delegate his presidency
and that electronic
means are available for
him to continue to
govern even though he
not physically in the
country, meaning he can
use his cellular phone -
on roaming - and email
to communicate with his
ministers.
The move is seen by many
a positive as Arias
breaks practice and
demonstrates he is a
"modern" president. The
head of the Liberación
Nacional party whip,
Óscar Núñez, applauded
the Arias decision,
denied the rumours
circulating last night
that many of the party
member legislators were
upset with the Arias
decision.
For his part, Pacheco
said he did not hear of
any discontent on the
Arias decision and said
that the precendent was
set by José Figueres
Ferrer (Don Pepe) who on
one occasion left the
country and did not
delegate his presidency
to neither of the two
vice-presidents and no
one made a fuss then.
Pacheco added that Don
Pepe left the country
without permission of
the legislators, as was
permitted at the time.
"That was the time made
famous by Don Pepe when
asked where he had gone,
he answered by saying he
went to see Mickey
Mouse", said Pacheco. |
