President Pacheco Treated for High Pressure, Relinquishes Presidency Temporarily
President Abel Pacheco was hospitalized on Monday morning with high blood pressure, although his condition was stable by the afternoon, his spokeswoman said.

Pacheco, 71, has had a number of health scares in recent years, including a brief spell in hospital in February for heart problems.

A diabetic, the U.S.-educated president suffered partial facial paralysis after a brain hemorrhage in 2000, two years before taking office.

Hospital director Luis Paulino Hernandez said Pacheco was in stable condition and that his "arterial pressure came down in the past few hours."

Presidential spokeswoman Betania Aratavia said Pacheco would remain hospitalized overnight.

Pacheco's latest health problem are a possible result following allegations this week of irregularities in accepting gifts, used airline tickets given to the government for personal and a connection between Spanish businessman Bernardo Martín and his investment in a Papagayo land development and Paheco appointing him Honourary Consul to Sevilla, Spain and getting his book published free by a Martín foundation.

The pressure started when it was made public that Pacheco had accepted as a gift a lifetime membership for he and his wife to a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic when he visited there this year.

Next on the list of irregularities is the use of free tickets given as a customary practice by the TACA Group airline to the government. Pacheco used the free tickets for the San José - Miami  - San José leg of his Spain trip, which was a personal trip. Pacheco said he would reimburse the government for the cost of the tickets

Also on the Pacheco watchlist is the connection between he and Spanish businessman Martín, who was appointed Honourary Consul to Sevilla by Pacheco and later invested in a land development project in Papagayo, Guanacaste, which is owned by Rubén Pacheco Lutz, the former Minister of Tourism in Abel Pacheco's administration and accompanied the president on the Spain Trip.

Also on hand on the Spain trips was also Jorge Arce, president Pacheco's chief protocol officer at Casa Presidencial, who resigned last Monday following reports in the media of possible wrongdoing.

Martín's foundation published a book of poems by president Pacheco and presented last December on the President's second trip to Spain.

Pacheco came out fighting last week, taking to the airwaves on national television and radio, defending his actions. He admitted that he may have made some mistakes. 

He told Costa Ricans that they know him and know what to expect from him. And all the accusations are a campaign by the media who are angry at him and want to smear his good name.

President Pacheco, according to his doctors, will probably be released from the Calderón Guardia hospital today, following a 24 hour observation.  Hwever, doctors are now "ordering" to stay home for the next five days and not a recommendation like the last time.

Facing doctor's orders, Pacheco made a call yesterday to temporary relinquish his presidential powers to first Vice-President, Lineth Saborío, this according to information released by Casa Presidencial.

Casa Presidencial press secretary, Carolina Murillo, confirmed yesterday that Saborío will fill in for Pacheco while is out on medical orders.

Under the Costa Rican constitution, a president cannot resign office. The transfer of power of the president can only occur on the death or "permanent" incapacitation.