Solís Says PAC Is Not Behind The Protest Marches Against the TLC
In a recent interview, Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC) leader, Ottón Solís, said his party doesn't support the street protests against the Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) - free trade agreement with the United States (CAFTA) - nor does he have a special relationship with the union leaders.

Solís, the former presidential candidate who came in a close second to winning the presidential seat on the platform that the TLC must be renegotiated, talked to Carlos Villalobos of the daily Spanish language La Nación.

The PAC leader confessed that his party has not studied the full effect of the TLC on the education sector, but is firm that the participation of Costa Rica in the trade deal will mean a loss of some us$480 million dollars in tax revenue

The 52 year old economist maintains that the trade agreement is very complicated and that "we" have not developed expertise on the subject.

Solís was emphatic that he did not assist in the planning of the protest marches of last month and that, though he respects the protests, both in favour and against the trade agreement, he and his party have the tool of the legislative process.

"I respect the marches, but we did not call for them", said Solís.

Asked about the number of PAC party members who partook in the marches, Solís defended his party position that it did not call for the protests and not all party members took to the streets, asking the reported to take another count of the number of PAC members who did attend and of those who didn't.

Solís added that is not party policy to organize and attend protest marches, reiterating that his party is working on the Assembly floor for the changes, using the legislative process in a democratic process that must be respected. "The PAC from the beginning was founded to induce a transformation within the existing rules", said the PAC leader.

Asked if it was the "union" vote that gave him the close victory, Solís said he did not know, only that 650.000 Costa Ricans voted for him, not knowing if they were union card carriers or not. He did however say that he has never been a "sindicalista" - trade unionist.

During the interview Solís was asked many questions on his position of arms, education and the unions and the final outcome of the TLC and the expected vote in the legislature next month, where with 38 expected votes of the assembly the trade agreement will be ratified and go into effect in 2007.

Asked what is the future of Costa Rica if the TLC is approved, Solís answered "Diay, very sad for Costa Rica".