National Liberation Party leader confirms political pressure in judicial vote

Álvaro Ramírez Bogantes, the floor leader of the National Liberation Party (PLN), has publicly confirmed that political pressure was exerted during the legislative vote regarding the continuity of Magistrate Julia Varela.

Ramírez stated, “Here pressures exist,” and suggested that these actions were linked to efforts by President Rodrigo Chaves to increase political control over the Judiciary. While the PLN leader confirmed the existence of pressure, he did not validate the most severe specific allegations circulating in the Assembly, which included claims that deputies were offered financial assistance to settle debts in exchange for their votes.