Wednesday 17
September
2008, San José, Costa
Rica
Arias Opposition Tougher
Following His "Tired"
Comment
US Financial
Crisis Not All Bad For Costa Rica
ICE and Correos Join
Forces For A National
Address System
World Bank Approves
Disaster Funding For
Costa Rica
US Navy Seizes Cocaine
Sub Off Costa Rica
2,000 Jobs Available In
Guanacaste: Tourism,
Construction,
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Arias Opposition Tougher
Following His "Tired"
Comment
Opponents of Costa Rican
president Oscar Arias'
style of governing
showed their ruffled
feathers yesterday
following the
president's vehement
comments on Monday that
he is tired of listening
to the whining of
critics and to let be to
govern.
The reaction by members
of the Legislative
Assembly was more like
raging bulls charging a
red cape.
Legislators of the
Partido Acción Ciudadana
(PAC) strongly
recommended that the
president before his
tired of his critics
should should leadership
and ethics of his
government which has
been lost under a
blanket of secrecy.
Alberto Salom, speaking
for the PAC, said that a
president should never
tire being accountable
and to give explanations
for the actions of his
administration.
"The president is
playing the victim in
front of the press and
opposition parties.
Meanwhile, the country
is suffering the
consequences of a
government that has lost
its direction", said
Salom in front of fellow
legislators during
yesterday's legislative
session.
Salom went as far as to
say that Arias has not
been at the helm of his
administration.
Criticsm for the Arias
comment grew as the
legislative session
continued, as more and
more legislators shot
back with their comments
against the president
and his ability to
govern, comments like
those by José Merion,
the only legislative
member of the Frente
Amplio party, saying
that if Arias has not
been able to govern it
has been because he has
been incapable of take
advantage of the power
bestowed him.
"The president has been
governing with an
obedient block of
legislators, counting on
the permanent support of
38 legislative votes at
his disposal. It has
been almost without
exception, all the votes
of the Constitutional
Court in favour of hi
plans. In recent times,
if someone has
accumulated power in
this country, it has
been president Arias",
said Merino.
Jorge Eduardo Sánchez
for the Partido Unidad
Social Cristiana (PUSC)
categorized Oscar Arias
as a "governante
mezquino" (petty ruler),
mainly for not
acknowledging the
support he has received
from opposition parties
to govern.
Mario Quirós of the
Movimiento Libertario
was another who did not
hold his tongue in
showing his anger
towards Arias and his
comments, especially the
comment where Arias said
the country is
ungovernable because his
accountability is being
demanded.
For his part the
president of the
Legislative Assembly,
Francisco Antonio
Pacheco, attempted to
provide support for the
president and his
comment by diverting as
much as possible
comments on Arias
Independence Day speech.
However, after 20
minutes of being
pressured by
legislators, he had to
give up on his attempts.
Pacheco, who will in
line to govern the
country temporarily when
Arias is away, once
vice-president Laura
Chinchilla announces her
2010 presidential
candidacy aspirations,
defended the secrecy
over the purchase of
us$150 million dollars
in bonds by the Chinese.
"I can say with pride
and joy that not one of
the accusations and
critics thrown at the
government is for 'enriquecimiento
ilícito' (Illegal
Enrichment) of any
public official", said
Pacheco.
Pacheco also made a call
on all political
opponents and the media
to tone down their
criticism of president
Arias.
"The joy it gives to the
opposition to disrepute
the Government
tirelessly and with some
success, has a huge
punishment", said
Pacheco to his fellow
legislators.
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The happy moments Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias,
enjoyed while in Europe last week, vanished yesterday as
criticism for his actions intensified following his
comments on Monday that his tired of the critics
launched against him and his government. In the foto he
is holding a jersey given to him by the Madrid Real
soccer team.
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