Arias Criticized For Not
Handing Over Mandate
While Away, Bowing To
Laura
Costa Rican president,
Oscar Arias, broke with
tradition by not calling
on vice-president, Laura
Chinchilla, or her
absence the president of
the Legislative
Assembly, Francisco
Antonio Pacheco, to
assume the duties and
responsibilities of the
presidency while
travelling to El
Salvador for the SICA
meeting.
The prez said that
modern technology like
the cellular telephone
and the internet and
email would allow him to
govern without problems
while not at home.
However, others have a
totally different
opinion: the president
is setting the stage for
the departure of Laura
when she announces her
candidacy to the 2010
presidential elections.
According to analyst
Constantion Urcuyo, the
actions of Don Oscar
clear demonstrate that
he will continue to
govern and not call on
Francisco Pacheco, as is
custom.
With the departure last
year of second
vice-president, Kevin
Casas, the duty of
governing if the
president is not in the
country or incapacitated
would fall on the
Assembly president if
and when Laura steps
down.
However, that was not
the case on Friday when
the president was
absent, Arias breaking
tradition by not having
over the presidential
chair to either
Chinchilla or Pacheco.
Chinchilla denied that
decision by the
president has anything
to do with her expected
presidential candidacy.
"That is spinning it
fine, we have spoken on
the subject some time
ago, after the departure
of Kevin Casas. Simply
he decided to opt for it
on this occasion, and
one shouldn't looking
past that", said
Chinchilla.
Sources closed to the
president say Arias took
advantage of a legal
interpretation to the
country's political
constitution, an
interpretation that was
made by lawyer Rubén
Hernández Valle, the
same lawyer that made
the interpretation for
the Sala IV or
Constitutional Court
that allowed the
re-election of the
president.
Hernández Valle said in
his interpretation that
it would be illogical
for the president to
hand over his mandate to
another person when he
clearly can continue to
govern. Handing over the
reigns in such a
situation would mean two
people would be
governing the country at
the same time, an
illogical situation.
Constitutional lawyer
Fabián Volio shares the
same opinion, saying
that the president's
mandate is not limited
by territory. "When the
president leaves the
country, he continues to
be president", said
Volio.
Volio added that the
provisions are for when
the president is
incapacitated that he
temporarily hand over
his mandate, like in the
case of an illness.
However, Arias critics
like Rodolfo Cerdas
believes that the
president is bowing down
to Laura.
Cerdas was critical of
the Arias decision not
to leave anyone in
charge, saying what
would happen if the
president was kidnapped
while away? Who would
run the country then?
The question will become
clear on the president's
next away trip. |
