QCOSTARICA — On Thursday, faction leaders of the Legislative Assembly decided to postpone the discussion on approving the reseal that would enable cheaper tickets to Central America for another week.
The reseal initiative of the approved bill vetoed by President Rodrigo Chaves will be voted on March 11, after Fabricio Alvarado, head of the Nueva República faction, announced today that he changed his mind and would not support it.
Read more: Rodrigo Chaves vetoes bill for low-cost flights in Central America
– Advertisement –
“We have carried out a serious and well-studied analysis and we will not approve it,” he stressed.
This decision is key at this time since for the reseal required 38 votes of which the Nueva República could have contributed 8. Along with Nueva República, the eight legislators of the ruling party, PPSD, will vote against, as will the PLN legislator José Joaquín Hernández and PUSC legislators Melina Ajoy and Carlos Andrés Robles.
In simple math, that is 19 declared votes against of the total 57. If that holds, the bill is expected to receive the 38 votes required to pass.
For this reason, the PLP, led by Eli Feinzaig, promoter of the bill, requested time, with the intention of negotiating, removing doubts of some legislators, seeking a change of opinion or confirming that the 38 legislators will be present at the session on March 11.
Pro-government legislator Pilar Cisneros denounced a “political trick”, claiming that the opposition does not have enough votes and that is why they are delaying the decision.
The tourism sector has also expressed its concern, stating that the reduction of rates could generate a negative impact on the local economy and job creation.
– Advertisement –
The hypothesis of the businessmen is that tourists could opt for shorter stays in Costa Rica before moving to other destinations in the region, affecting the national tourism industry.
In turn, the airlines have expressed their opposition to the regulation of rates, arguing that this measure would limit competition and affect air connectivity.
The cheap flights bill, if it ever becomes law, would set a flat rate of US$50 one way and US$100 return for flights from Costa Rica to destinations in Central America; US$60 and US$120 for flights to the Dominican Republic.
– Advertisement –
Source link
Rico
