Laura Sues Otto For Libel
January 20th, 2010 | by admin |The Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN), Laura Chinchilla, has filed suit in the Tribunales de Justicia, Otto Guevara, candidate for the Partido Movimiento Libertario (ML).
Chinchilla considered insulting that Liberatio candidate questioned the origin of the funds used to buy house in the residential community Villa Real, located in Santa Ana, where she resides with her husband and son.
Chinchilla says that the claim by the Liberatarian that the house is valued at ¢500 million colones is false, as well as implying the money came from questionable sources.
Doña Laura made it clear that her house is valued at ¢167 million colones, which she was able to buy thanks two mortgage loans, one to buy the lot and the other to build the house.
“I do not have have great wealth, I have my house and a 1999 model vehicle. My only asset is my honour and honesty, and that is priceless”, said Chinchilla.
The PLN candidate said that her opponent has crossed the line in his political attacks in this campaign, saying she will not tolerate being accused of corruption that has been common in the country, referring to the Caja-Fischel case that recenlty saw a former president of Costa Rica and high profile government officials and businessmen sentenced to prison.
Chinchilla has hired former Fiscal General, José María Tijerino, to argue the case in court.
“I am saddened that this is happening at this point in the campaign. I have led a responsible campaign and have not provoked any personal attacks against my person and want to assure all Costa Ricans that they will never be ashamed of the person (she) they will elect to govern”, said Chinchilla.
If the Libertario’s retract, the former vice-president said she will ask for damages from Otto Guevara, which undisclosed amount will be donated to the Hospital Nacional de Niño (children’s hospital).
“I don’t want to receive any compensation from this. I will not touch a single penny coming from that party”, said Laura.
In the ML camp, Christian Arguedas, heading the campaign for Otto Guevara, considers the Chinchilla action one of a desperate woman due to rise in popularit of the Movimiento Libertario.
Arguedas was firm in his assertion that Chinchilla is lying about her personal finances, that some of the most influential people in the country live in Villa Real, where homes go from us$1.5 to us$2 million dollars, and that she and the party are panicking with the results of the latest polls.
Although Chinchilla continues to lead the polls, her popularity has dropped some points, while that of Guevara is rising quickly and steadily, in what many are beginning to believe that there may be a run off election.
In 2006, Oscar Arias was considered, like Chinchilla, a shoe-in for the presidential chair, but almost lost it to Ottón Solís on election day. Arias won the 2006 elections by a margin of less than 1.000 votes.
