Q COSTA RICA — On Wednesday, opposition legislators in Costa Rica questioned the conduct of former President and Minister of the Presidency and Finance, Rodrigo Chaves, during official events held on September 14 in Cartago; some even called for his removal from President Laura Fernández’s cabinet.
The criticism arose after videos circulated showing an exchange between Chaves and a citizen who objected to the security checks required to enter Cartago’s Plaza Mayor Monday night, where the Executive Branch held its traditional Cabinet meeting and subsequently received the Independence Torch, ahead of Independence Day on Tuesday.
“Why do I have to show my cedula (ID card) to get in here, as if I were a criminal?” the man asked.
Chaves initially replied that he did not know the reason. Later, when the citizen attributed the measure to the government, the minister told him to go buy “crema de rosas” (rose cream)—a common political insult and a mocking slang phrase used to tell someone to “get over it,” stop crying, or soothe their metaphorical “burns” or hurt feelings—and subsequently used the taunting nursery rhyme “lero, lero, calzón de cuero” (a childish “nyah, nyah” taunt), accompanied by hand gestures.
Read more: Former President Rodrigo Chaves mocks Costa Ricans
The incident was brought before the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, where more than 30 legislators requested the floor to address the events in Cartago.
“That minister must resign”
One of the strongest criticisms came from Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) legislator Janice Sandí, who argued that the official’s actions ended up overshadowing the message delivered by President Fernández during the event.
“Regarding the September 14th event in Cartago, not a word of what the president said remained in the media; instead, what remained was the display of rudeness, disrespect, and lack of manners shown by a government minister,” the legislator stated.
Sandí directly called for Chaves’s departure from the cabinet.
“That minister must resign. Ms. Laura, your speech and your words were lost that sad night amidst the minister’s actions,” she noted during her legislative address.
Legislator and former presidential candidate, Claudia Dobles, also questioned Chaves’s behavior and asked Fernández to take action.
Dobles described the incident as “deplorable and shameful” and criticized the fact that, in her view, the political sphere was not sufficiently condemning the way Chaves had responded to the citizen. She also maintained that the president should “take action on the matter” and raised the possibility of removing the minister from his post.
Criticism goes beyond the exchange with Chaves
Opposition concerns also extended to the security operation set up around the Plaza Mayor, where citizens reported restrictions on entering the civic event—a first in Costa Rica’s modern history.
PLN lawmaker Álvaro Ramírez argued that there had been an “open violation of constitutional principles” during the day’s events and stated that some people were subjected to what he termed prior restraint when attempting to enter the perimeter.
Even before the event began, legislators from the so-called democratic bloc had reported alleged obstructions by the Fuerza Pública (National Police) regarding the entry of people participating in anti-government protests.
Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC) legislator Abril Gordienko later stated that the incident amounted to “discrimination against citizens,” noting the disparity between the access granted to government supporters and the treatment received by those critical of the Executive branch.
Frente Amplio legislator Edgardo Araya expressed a similar view, asserting that, in his opinion, there were “two classes of citizens” during the activities.
“There had to be room in Cartago for both those who applauded and those who pointed fingers,” stated Araya.
Legislators from the ruling party, the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO) defended the events that took place during the celebrations and rejected the accusations leveled by the opposition.
Legislator José Miguel Villalobos, who has been the defense attorney and legal representative for Rodrigo Chaves until last month, when he who voluntarily suspended his law license to be a full-time legislator, questioned the methods of protest employed by opposition groups.
Villalobos noted that the slogans used against Chaves and Fernández fall under freedom of expression, although he described them as unpleasant.
The legislative debate took place two days after a day marked by a heavy police presence in downtown Cartago, demonstrations by both government supporters and detractors, and access restrictions reported by some attendees.
The main demand raised this Wednesday by various opposition sectors was directed at President Laura Fernández; lawmakers called on her to evaluate Rodrigo Chaves’s continued presence in the cabinet.
Fernández backs Chaves
In the early afternoon Wednesday, during the weekly press conference, President Laura Fernández dismissed the idea that criticism from opposition legislators would influence Rodrigo Chaves’s tenure in her cabinet, asserting that Chaves “enjoys my absolute confidence.”
Read more: Fernández calls Chaves’s mockery in Cartago a “mistake” but simultaneously justifies it
Although she admitted that the mocking incident “might not be my style of communication,” she defended Chaves by noting that it was simply “Rodrigo Chaves being Rodrigo Chaves.” She further warned that “no lawmaker is going to influence any decision I make regarding my government team.”
For his part, Chaves, called to the podium by the President, defended his reaction to the citizen who confronted him. The minister stated that he initially refrained from responding because he considered the matter to be the responsibility of the Minister of Public Security, but noted that the man continued to challenge him.
According to his account, he had two options: “walk away and leave him talking to himself, or try to defuse his argument,” so he decided to resort to the childish gesture. “Yes, yes, I gave him the schoolyard taunt; we all know it,” Chaves acknowledged.