The Costa Rica News (TCRN) – The presidential candidate of the center-left Citizen Action Party (PAC), Luis Guillermo Solis, met with the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica, with whom he discussed a “broad” agenda of social issues and human rights.
Solis, who on April 6 will face a runoff vote against Johnny Araya, the ruling National Liberation Party, told reporters that the agenda included issues such as combating poverty, economics and ethics, in which there were “great matches”.
In addition, the presidential hopeful said that they discussed controversial issues such as in vitro fertilization, the unions of same-sex, abortion and secular state.
“We did not evade those conversations but there was an understanding to concentrate on a broader agenda that has to do with the poor and excluded people,” said Solis.
The candidate reiterated his support for bills to endorse IVF and civil unions between same sex couples in order to guarantee economic rights to these couples.
Solis said in his campaign he does not promote abortion laws beyond what is currently allowed, for instance when there’s danger to the life of the mother, and called to “not politicize” this issue in the election campaign.
On the fight against poverty, the PAC candidate agreed with the bishop’s need for a “more inclusive and more equitable distribution of wealth” in the economy.
On Wednesday, the bishops met with the other presidential candidate, Johnny Araya, who expressed his opposition to gay marriage and abortion, and also exposed his social and anti-poverty proposal. (ACAN-EFE)
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose Costa Rica