Movimiento Libertario Party Throws Mud At
Laura Chinchilla
Although the 2010 presidential elections are
far away in the future in political time,
the presidential campaign has heated up,
with name calling, accusations and
mudslinging, mainly from the Movimiento
Libertario (ML) party led by Otto Guevara.
In television and radio spots, the
Movimiento Libertario attacks the Partido
Liberación Nacional (PLN) and Partido Unidad
Social Cristiana (PUSC) parties, with a
direct attack on Laura Chinchilla leader of
the PLN and corruption by past and present
leaders of the PUSC party.
In one particular ad, lawyer and former
ministro de Seguridad Pública, Juan Diego
Castro, strongly criticizes Laura
Chinchilla, basically calling her a liar and
that, although he will continue as a member
of the PLN party, he would not vote for her.
In the ad, Castro speaks directly to
Chinchilla, asking rhetorically, "you know
that I am speaking the truth doña Laura".
Castro is a very vocal personality in Costa
Rica, making regular appearances on national
television with his commentary on criminal
cases and topical events. Castro has also
worked in the past with Laura Chinchilla,
who as well as being vice-president in the
current government, was also ministra de
Justicia and worked together at the
Ministerio de Seguridad Pública in 1995.
The ad was produced during the PLN
convention and is now being used by the
Guevara presidential campaign, with the full
agreement of Castro, who has said he does
not retract what he says in the ad.
Castro goes further. "I object to Laura
because as vice-minister, legislator and
Justice minister she did nothing relevant in
terms of public security", said Castro who
stays firm on his position of the use of the
ads, although he was never consulted by the
Guevara campaign team.
Castro said he will be expecting an
explanation by the ML leader Otto Guevara,
failing which he may consider legal action,
but in no way will retract what has been
said publicly. Castro explained that any
legal action would be for the use without
consent and not for the content.
The manager of communications for the
Movimiento Libertarion, Danny Quirós, said
that the ad has been very effetive and that
Guevara will be in touch with Castro to
clear things up between the two.
Quirós added that the ML will continue its
attack on Laura Chinchilla.
The ML has also been on the offensive
against the PUSC party, with ads detailing
the corruption of past leaders and
presidents belonging to the political party.
Although there is not direct attack, not
yet, on Luis Fishman, presidential candidate
for the PUSC party, the ad is clear that the
party that has alternanted power in Costa
Rica with the PLN for decades, is proven
corrupt.
With 74 days to go to election day on
February 7, 2010, Chinchilla and the PLN are
way ahead according to the latest polls,
while the ML, PAC and PUSC are lagging
behind.
A similar situation occurred in 2006 when
Oscar Arias led the polls right up to the
end when Ottón Solís and the PAC party came
within a hair of taking the presidency,
Arias winning with a margin of less than a
thousand votes.
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Juan Diego Castro (centre) back in 1995 when he and Laura Chinchilla (left) worked together at the ministerio de Seguridad Pública |
