TSE Cautions Arias On
TLC Talks
The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones, has cautioned Costa Rican president,
Oscar Arias, to refrain
from using his
"official" activities to
campaign in favour of
the Tratado de Libre
Comercio (TLC) - free
trade agreement with the
Unite States.
Arias is in favour of
the trade deal and has
taken every opportunity
to promote the "Si"
vote.
However, in a resolution
signed on August 27th,
the TSE - the supreme
electoral tribunal -
says that the president
can talk about about the
TLC in his tours and
activities, but must not
convert them only in
activities promoting the
trade deal.
The resolution also asks
that Arias and
government officials not
make reference to
religious matters when
talking about the trade
deal.
The Tribunal magistrates
caution the president
and his ministers not to
condition the "Si" vote
in exchange for public
assistance programs.
The TSE resolution does
not mean that president
cannot continue to
express his opinion on
the trade deal, just
that the propaganda not
be financed with public
funds like his official
tours.
Luis Antonio Sobrado,
presidente of the TSE,
said that the Tribunal
sees as propaganda when
the president is
surrounded by signs,
brochures and other
material promoting the "Si"
vote, including using
public vehicles,
drivers, public
buildings and locations,
all to promote in favour
of the trade deal.
Sobrado added that the
measure is not to
censure the president's
position on the TLC
during his public
appearances, but rather
not to devote the entire
official visit to the
TLC but to other public
issues of the
government.
The Arias government
issued a press release
yesterday saying it
would respect the TSE
decision. |
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