TLC Commission President Says TLC Will Pass
Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) deputy and president of the Comisión de Asuntos Internacionales, Janina Del Vecchio, says that the party would like to see 38 votes of approval for the Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) - the free trade agreement with the United States.

"The number of votes required for approval is up to the President of the Legislative Assembly and must be approved by the Constitutional Court. However, I believe that 38 votes would be nice. We have gotten recommendations that 29 votes are sufficient, however, we are looking for 38", said the deputy.

Del Vecchio added that the more votes in favour of the trade agreement the stronger the legitimacy when the deal is in place.

The Comisión de Asuntos Internacionales has been charged with studying the trade agreement and making recommendations for its approval. The vote on the trade deal is expected by December and president Oscar Arias assures Costa Ricans that it will pass.

"At the PLN we have been working hard to obtain the 38 votes for most proposals and the TLC should be no exception. The more support we have the better to promote the deal that is the best for the interests of the country", said Del Vecchio.

The commission head said she expects to count on votes from José Manuel Echandi, of the Unión Nacional party; Guyón Massey, of the Restauración Nacional aprty; all of the legislators of the Unidad Socialcristiana (PUSC) party, and of the members of the Movimiento Libertario, and that is in addition to 25 members of the PLN.

According to the criteria set out by the Departamento de Servicios Técnicos del Congreso last April, to get the TLC approved all that is required is the majority of the deputies present the day of the vote. The majority in this case is one half of the votes plus one.