Deputies Are Becoming Impatient Over Figueres
What ever happened to former president José María Figueres Olsen? Remember a short while back he figured in the daily headlines and then nothing.

Legislative deputies are asking the same question and is beginning to test their patience.

The president of the Comisión de Control del Gasto Público, Luis Gerardo Villanueva, said yesterday that  "it appears that the Fiscalía General are dragging their feet. It's been months and nothing."

Villanueva said he will press for a resolution. The Deputy admitted that the situation is out he Legislature's reach and in the hands of the Fiscal General, Francisco Dall'Anese.

Villanueva said that in a few weeks they (the Comisión) should have the complete report on the ICE-Alcatel scandal, that names former president Figueres, as well as former presidents Rodriguez and Calderón who are in Costa Rica and under house arrest.

A spokesperson for the Poder Judicial, Fabián Barrantes, limited his comments on the subject, only to say that the Fiscalía is continuing its investigation of Figueres.

The Fiscalía is playing it safe. February last, Dall'Anese told the legislative deputies that the investigation of Figueres reaches beyond Costa Rica and to force Figueres to return could limit their scope of the investigation.

Dall'Anese pointed out to the legislators that if Figueres is returned on specific accusations, mainly to explain his role in receiving us$906.000 dollars as a consultant to Alcatel on the ICE deal, it could limit the possibilities of any further investigation of Figueres and his role in  the ICE-Alcatel scandal if the report confirms more involvement.

For his part, Figueres has admitted to received the payment, pointing out that it was after he left the presidency and for specialized consulting services that he is qualified. Figueres held the presidency between 1994 and 1998 and admits to be being paid by Alcatel, for his services, in the year 2000.

Figueres currently lives in Switzerland and has refused to return to Costa Rica voluntarily, fearing he may face the same fate of his successor, Miguel Angel Rodríguez, who gave up his post as Secretary General of the Organization of American States to return to Costa Rica to face his accusers, who promptly jailed him.

The last opinion poll by Demoscopia for the daily Spanish language newspaper Al Día reveals that 82% of Costa Ricans have a negative opinion of Figueres.