
Unheard of Costa Rica. Justice asked, Tuesday, July 1, in Parliament, for the first time in its history, to lift the president’s immunity, Rodrigo Chaves, so that the latter can be prosecuted for corruption.
Against the backdrop of an open conflict between the bodies of power, the plenary court of the Supreme Court decided by the majority of the votes of “Transmitting the request for the lifting of immunity to the Legislative Assembly” of the president, according to a press release from the judiciary.
Mr. Chaves, a 64 -year -old conservative economist, is accused by the Attorney General, Carlo Diaz, with whom he is in conflict, of having forced a communication service company hired by the presidency to pay $ 32,000 (or 27,294.44 euros) to his friend and former image advisor, Federico Cruz.
The prosecution accuses the concussion president, an offense punishable by two to eight years in prison for civil servants who force or encourage “Give or promise, for themselves or for a third party, a property or heritage advantage”.
Targeted by other surveys
“The final decision returns” To the deputies, said the Supreme Court, in its press release, also requesting the lifting of the immunity of the Minister of Culture, Jorge Rodriguez, for the same reasons.
According to a survey, the contract with the company for the chairmanship of Chaves, from 2022 to 2026, was carried out with the funds of the Central American Bank of Economic Integration through a procedure ” apparently “ irregular.
The president elected in 2022 has not reacted until now, while Mr. Rodriguez said he had “Consciousness quiet”.
The judicial and electoral authorities also conduct other surveys against the president.
During his conferences and official acts, Rodrigo Chaves regularly takes political opponents, judges, prosecutors and deputies as well as the critical press towards him.
The former official of the World Bank is not authorized to run for a new mandate, but could seek to obtain a seat in Parliament in the general elections of 2026.