Page "Politics of Costa Rica" Paragraph 25

Since Óscar Arias returned to office, the political debate has centered on whether to approve or reject CAFTA.

Main supporters of the approval include the President's PLN, which has established a coalition with PUSC and ML in Congress to approve the implementation laws in Congress, as well as different business chambers, while the main opposition to CAFTA comes from PAC, labor unions, environmental organizations and public universities.

In April 2007, former PLN Presidential candidate and CAFTA opponent José Miguel Corrales won a legal battle at the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, which authorized him to gather over 100, 000 signatures to send CAFTA to a referendum and let the people decide the fate of the controversial agreement.

As the February 28, 2008 deadline to approve or reject CAFTA loomed, Arias decided to call for the referendum himself, and it took take place on October 7, 2007.