Costa Rican Assembly faces tension over workday votes and magistrate reelection

The Costa Rican Legislative Assembly faced significant tension on Wednesday as a scheduled extraordinary session failed to proceed as planned. The session was intended to vote on revision motions regarding the 4-3 workday project, but Assembly President Yara Jiménez canceled the voting process, citing technical problems. This followed a period of instability where several deputies from the National Liberation Party (PLN) failed to vote, leading to multiple recesses and the departure of the President and the government leader, Nogui Acosta, from the plenary hall.

Separately, the Assembly is set to debate the continuity of Julia Varela as a magistrate of the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice. Varela, who has served since 2002, is seeking an eight-year extension of her term. To prevent her reelection, at least 38 votes against her must be cast; otherwise, she will be automatically reelected until 2034. While the Appointments Commission recommended against her reelection in August, the political landscape remains divided, with rumors of pressure being exerted on opposition deputies regarding the vote.