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Referendum Is A Go!
Immigration
Continues Operatives Against Illegals
Young Prefer Text
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New Transit Law Stalled For Eight Months |
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Referendum Is A Go!
With five votes in
favour and two against,
the magistrates of the
Sala Constitucional
(Constitutional court)
yesterday said that the
Tratado de Libre
Comercio (TLC) - free
trade agreement with the
United States - is not
unconstitutional and
paved the way for the
Tribunal Supremo de
Elecciones (TSE) to move
ahead with holding the
referendum.
The public vote will be
held on October 7.
The court decision came
down at 10:00am
yesterday, clearing up
all doubts of
constitutionality
regarding the trade
agreement and arguments
brought forth by a
number of parties
opposing the trade deal
and their attempt to
stop the popular vote.
The TSE had announced
the October 7 date last
month, but had made it
clear that all plans for
the referendum where on
hold pending the court
decision, a decision
that was not expected
until later this month.
In the case that a
majority of the
magistrates had found
constitutional problems
with the trade deal, the
referendum would have
not been held and the
trade deal would have
gone back to the
Legislature for a vote.
With the court's
decision, Costa Ricans
will now have a say in
the future of the trade
pact that is already in
force in the other
Central American
countries and the
Dominican Republic.
Costa Rica is the only
signatory country in the
Central American Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
to not ratify and
implement the trade
deal.
Yesterday's court
decision dissipates all
doubts on the agreement,
doubts that have been
used to stall the
passing of the agreement
in the Legislative
Assembly.
The Constitutional Court
was consulted on the
constitutionality for
the trade deal by the
Defensoría de los
Habitantes (Ombudsman)
and 18 legislators; 16
of the Partido Acción
Ciudadana (PAC), José
Merino of the Frente
Amplio and Óscar López
of the Accesibilidad sin
Exclusión.
The vote in favour was
given by magistrates
Luis Fernando Solano
(president of the
court), Luis Paulino
Mora, Ana Virginia
Calzada, Adrián Vargas
and Ernesto Jinesta. The
vote against was by
Gilbert Armijo,
Fernando Cruz, who said
they found
constitutional problems
with the TLC.
The decision handed down
yesterday was received
with mixed reaction, as
some opposing the trade
deal accused the court
of being manipulated by
the politicians.
Costa Rican president,
Oscar Arias, went on
national television last
night with a live
message telling the
audience that the court
decision is proof that
in Costa Rica conflicts
are resolved by law and
not by force.
The president reaffirmed
his pleasure with the
decision and said that
Costa Ricans should be
filled with pride.
Arias thanked the
magistrates of the court
for their job and said
it is now up to Costa
Ricans to decide on the
future of the trade deal
and now there are no
more pretexts or
excuses, the people now
have to get out an vote.
For his part, the
Ministro de la
Presidencia, Rodrigo
Arias and the
president's brother,
asked all Costa Ricans
to respect the decision
of the court, that all
oppositors to the trade
deal respect the
constitutional order and
specifically the Partido
Acción Ciudadana to
leader the respect for
the legal process in the
country.
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Luis
Fernando Solano (president of the
Constitutional Court) announced
yesterday the court's decision on the
constitutionality of the Tratado de
Libre Comercio (TLC). |
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