2010 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Laura Sues Otto For
Libel
The Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN), Laura
Chinchilla, has filed suit in the Tribunales
de Justicia, Otto Guevara, candidate for the
Partido Movimiento Libertario (ML).
Chinchilla considered insulting that
Liberatio candidate questioned the origin of
the funds used to buy house in the
residential community Villa Real, located in
Santa Ana, where she resides with her
husband and son.
Chinchilla says that the claim by the
Liberatarian that the house is valued at
¢500 million colones is false, as well as
implying the money came from questionable
sources.
Doña Laura made it clear that her house is
valued at ¢167 million colones, which she
was able to buy thanks two mortgage loans,
one to buy the lot and the other to build
the house.
"I do not have have great wealth, I have my
house and a 1999 model vehicle. My only
asset is my honour and honesty, and that is
priceless", said Chinchilla.
The PLN candidate said that her opponent has
crossed the line in his political attacks in
this campaign, saying she will not tolerate
being accused of corruption that has been
common in the country, referring to the
Caja-Fischel case that recenlty saw a former
president of Costa Rica and high profile
government officials and businessmen
sentenced to prison.
Chinchilla has hired former Fiscal General,
José María Tijerino, to argue the case in
court.
"I am saddened that this is happening at
this point in the campaign. I have led a
responsible campaign and have not provoked
any personal attacks against my person and
want to assure all Costa Ricans that they
will never be ashamed of the person (she)
they will elect to govern", said Chinchilla.
If the Libertario's retract, the former
vice-president said she will ask for damages
from Otto Guevara, which undisclosed amount
will be donated to the Hospital Nacional de
Niño (children's hospital).
"I don't want to receive any compensation
from this. I will not touch a single penny
coming from that party", said Laura.
In the ML camp, Christian Arguedas, heading
the campaign for Otto Guevara, considers the
Chinchilla action one of a desperate woman
due to rise in popularit of the Movimiento
Libertario.
Arguedas was firm in his assertion that
Chinchilla is lying about her personal
finances, that some of the most influential
people in the country live in Villa Real,
where homes go from us$1.5 to us$2 million
dollars, and that she and the party are
panicking with the results of the latest
polls.
Although Chinchilla continues to lead the
polls, her popularity has dropped some
points, while that of Guevara is rising
quickly and steadily, in what many are
beginning to believe that there may be a run
off election.
In 2006, Oscar Arias was considered, like
Chinchilla, a shoe-in for the presidential
chair, but almost lost it to Ottón Solís on
election day. Arias won the 2006 elections
by a margin of less than 1.000 votes.
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
