QCOSTARICA — The plan by legislators to throw the referendum ball into the hands of the Constitutional Court or Sala IV as it is commonly known, failed.
On Friday, the Sala IV declared “inadmissible” the consultation of 22 legislators led by Óscar Izquierdo, head of the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN).
Now, legislators will have no choice but to make a decision on the issue regarding the legality of the ‘Jaguar Law’ or referendum proposed by President Rodrigo Chaves.
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The press office of Costa Rica’s highest court only emphasizes that the decision of the magistrates was divided.
The Constitutional Court consult came before legislators even discussed the proposal, much less voted on in first debate, in effect passing the ball to the high court on the basis of “corroborating that the proposal does not violate the Political Constitution”.
The high court can be consulted if ten or more legislators make a request, typically following the first debate voting on a bill or proposed law.
The Jaguar Law, which includes the government’s plan for the reduction of the powers of the Comptroller’s Office (Contraloria), has been considered illegal by several specialists and denounced by Marta Acosta, Comptroller General, who points out that this would open the door to corruption.
The Jaguar Law implies a referendum or popular vote be held before the 2026 presidential elections and focus on only a handful of issues, basically, in addition to a reform of the Comptroller’s Office, the public can have their say on the development of the Cuidad Gobierno (Government City) project and the Limón Marina and Cruise Terminal.
For the bill or proposal to advance, it requires the approval of at least 29 of the 57 legislators or through the popular initiative mechanism, the collection of signatures of 5% of the electoral roll.
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Given the division among the country’s legislators, the government, if it wishes to move forward with the plan is in a race against time.
Also on Friday, the Ministra de la Presidencia (Chief of Staff), Natalia Diaz Quintana, tendered her resignation effective Monday, June 24.
Díaz brought a very different style to the government from the president, far from the controversy and clash that has characterized President Rodrigo Chaves in his relationship with the Legislative Assembly, according to the legislators.
“The former minister today had a quite different style from the president, she was accessible and always promoted consensus,” said PLN legislator Sonia Rojas.
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Though Diaz’s resignation came as no surprise, her departure had been making the rumor mill for the last week or more, it does come at a crucial time in the government of Rodrigo Chaves, losing a valuable ‘negotiator’ when good communications channels are so urgently needed between the Executive and Legislative Branches.
The former minister cited personal reasons for her departure and not related to the battle between legislators and President Chaves, nor did Diaz confirm or deny her plans for another run at the presidential chair in 2026.
On Sunday, President Rodrigo Chaves confirmed that Laura Fernandez who will leave the Ministerio de Planificación to be the new ministra de la Presidencia.
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