New Legislature Assumes Office

Tico Times, 2 de mayo, 2006

http://www.ticotimes.net/daily.htm#story2

New legislators for the 2006-2010 term took office yesterday and, through various actions, suggested that the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) will be their first order of business in the coming months.

Immediately after being sworn in, the new legislators elected ruling National Liberation Party (PLN) legislator Francisco Antonio Pacheco as the president of the Legislative Assembly for the next year. Libertarian Movement legislator Evita Arguedas will act as vice-president of the assembly.

Arguedas was elected to the post after Liberation and Libertarian Movement legislators reached an agreement to support one another's legislators in the leadership roles and to push a common agenda, with item number one being CAFTA. Both Liberation – which counts 25 legislators in the 57-member assembly – and Libertarian Movement – which has six legislators – strongly support the trade agreement.

In addition, Liberation legislators were elected as first secretary and first and second substitute secretaries. National Restoration legislator Guyón Massey, who also supports CAFTA, was elected second secretary.

The agreement between the two parties made it impossible for the Citizen Action Party (PAC) to win a majority in the Legislative Assembly. PAC is the second largest congressional group with 17 legislators.

Liberation began negotiations with Libertarian Movement days ago to ensure control of the legislature during the first year of President-elect Oscar Arias (Liberation).

Arias, who will take office next Monday, has said on various occasions that having his party in control of the legislative assembly is fundamental to carrying out his campaign promises.

Following the election of leadership, the legislative heads of each party addressed the assembly. All made some comment for or against CAFTA.

The new assembly also consists of five legislators from the Social Christian Unity Party, who gave their votes to Pacheco and single-legislator parties, the National Union and Accessibility Without Exclusion parties.

Outgoing President Abel Pacheco also addressed the Legislative Assembly yesterday afternoon in his final presidential report. Pacheco boasted of his accomplishments, but also advised legislators that they have a tough job ahead of them, particularly in passing a tax reform plan and combating poverty.

– Tico Times