PUSC Desertions Follow The Election of Fishman as Party President
Following the election of Luis Fishman as president of the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC) a select group of party members left the party assembly, vowing never to return. The reason: they are not happy with the "Calderonista" movement to place Fishman as head of the party.

Fishman was second vice-president in Abel Pacheco's administration and banished from any official function during te last four years, following a fall out between the two men during the presidential elections in 2002.

Ricardo Toledo, former Ministro de la Presidencia in Pacheco's administration and PUSC party presidential candidate in the 2006 election was the first to confirm that he will distance himself from the party as long as Fishman is in place.

Others who have said to leave the party for the same reason is Rodolfo Méndez, Rolando Laclé, ex diputado, Gerardo Álvarez and Luis Manuel Chacón, who are expected to officially announce their decision today (Monday).

"I cannot discard my leaving the PUSC, it is difficult to make such a decision because it has been many years and need to give it a lot of thought because I am immensely disappointed", said Chacon, who added that his decision to leave the party if not tied to any decision by his daughter, Ana Helena Chacon, who is a member of the Legislative Assembly. "In my heart I will always be socialcristiano", added Chacón.

Chacón is a close friend of former president Calderón, notwithstanding, is a strong critic of the Fishman election.

One person who is clear and decisive on his departure is Toledo. " I have seen Luis come and go from the PUSC and that is why I cannot stay. He (Luis) is the grave digger of the party", said Toledo.

Ricardo Toledo led the PUSC into the 2006 presidential elections with hope and promise but ended up almost at the bottom of the voting. The party that once was a major force, alternating power with the PLN for many years, was reduced to ashes in 2006.

Fishman is believed to be smug and arrogant. "The challenge of the new party president is to put aside his arrogance and admit that he has to do his job with humility and speak to everyone, always adding and multiplying, but never to divide as his arrogance divides the PUSC", said Jorge Eduardo Sánchez.

While the group of opposition to the election of Fishman are being vocal, there is another group within the party that is critical of the opposition and see Fishman as a way to save the party.

"Fishman is a great strategist that will unite the party, he has energy and time to move the PUSC ahead", said Jorge Garita, former president Rafael Angel Calderon's son-in-law.

Garita admitted that there are personal differences between those in opposition of Fishman, but with Fishman at the head of the party, the "socialcristianos" will rise above the opposition group with his political experience. Garita rejected the accusation that Fishman has zigzagged the party.