Costa Rica’s Congress fell short on Monday of the supermajority required to strip President Rodrigo Chaves of immunity in order to prosecute him on corruption charges.
Prosecutors allege that President Rodrigo Chaves pressured a video producer who had been awarded a contract by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration to give a portion of that money to a former campaign adviser. Chaves has denied any wrong doing and says he is the victim of a politically motivated prosecution.
Costa Rica’s congress debated Monday whether to strip a sitting president of his immunity for the first time in the Central American nation's history because of corruption allegations. Prosecutors allege that President Rodrigo Chaves pressured a video producer who had been awarded a contract by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration to give a portion of that money to a former campaign adviser.
Chaves has denied any wrongdoing and says he is the victim of a politically motivated prosecution. The country’s Supreme Court and a panel of three lawmakers have already allowed the case to proceed to Monday’s expected vote by the unicameral Legislative Assembly. But it will require a supermajority – 38 of 57 deputies – for Chaves to lose his immunity.
That outcome is far from assured. Some opposition lawmakers have already said they will not support lifting the president’s immunity. Combined with members of Chaves’ Social Democratic Progress Party, those supporting his prosecution may fall short of the necessary votes.