Majority of Legislators and President Arias Say Tinoco Should Quit
Guilty or not, the majority of the country's legislators believe that legislator, Federico Tinoco, should reign his seat in Legislative Assembly. The majority of the 47 legislators polled said yes, he should resign.

In total, 26 legislators feel that the scandal surrounding Tinoco will hurt the image of legislators, and even if an impartial investigation disproves the charges against, public opinion will not be in their favour.

The legislators said that he should resign at least during the investigation for sexual harassement of an employee of the legislature, who came out publicly against Tinoco and his actions against her that led to her firing when she refused his advances.

A number of other women, former employees of Tinoco have made similar accusations of they former boss following the legislators public announcement that the fired woman had misinterprated his intentions and catergorically denied all charges of sexual harassment.

The member of the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) - ruling party - cannot count on the support of his party and of president Oscar Arias. The majority of the 24 PLN legislators feel he should quit in the face of allegations of his conduct as a legislative deputy.

The majority of Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC) members, the second largest block of legislators, consulted also feel Tinoco should give up his seat. Though many legislator are keeping quiet on he subject, not one has come forward to support Tinoco.

Tinoco broke the silence earlier this week after rumours had been spread that he had sexually harassed one of his employees. The woman, who has kept her identity hidden, accused the legislator of sexual advances and organizing an opportunity to have sexual relations with her while on a government trip to the province of Limón.

The legislator, who had not been named in the accusations, decided to come out publicly to denounce the accusations, telling his side of the story, that it was all a misinterpretation and that he is a very "intense" person and that he is sometimes misunderstood.

The public announcement infuriated the woman more. The woman, through defender of women's rights and lawyer, Gloria Valerín, announced that she would be filing formal charges of sexual harassment. The married woman and mother, said she did not want to leave her children the legacy of the scandal without clearing her name.

At a party meeting held at the house of PLN leader on Wednesday, Mayi Antillón, the decision was made to ask Tinoco to resign his seat and renounce is parliamentary immunity. Antillón said that Tinoco was on his own now and the member is being asked to respect the wishes of president Arias to resign.

At 9:23am yesterday, deputy Ana Elena Chacón, president of the Comisión Legislativa de la Mujer, handed the secretary of the president of the legislature, formal charges against Tinoco. "It is now up to the legislatures administration to investigate the charges of sexual harassment and form a disciplinary team to deal with the matter", said Chacón.

The president of the legislature, Francisco Antonio Pacheco, said that the investigation will be for a definite period, who will make a report and recommendations on the case. Pacheco added that the prestige of the legislature has to be maintained and this would be an opportune time for Tinoco to renounce his immunity and it would be then up to the Tribunales de Justicia (courts) to determine if the woman was sexually harassed.

President Arias, in a public statement said "Costa Ricans are fortunate to any an independent Poder Judicial, that guarantees us totally impartial trials and that is where this case should be dealt with."