Laura Fernández, the presidential candidate for Pueblo Soberano (PPSO), will not participate in the televised debate organized by ¡OPA!, according to an announcement made by the channel’s director, Douglas Sánchez.
Sánchez explained that invitations were sent on September 29 to eight presidential candidates. In November, Fernández’s campaign declined the invitation due to a “schedule conflict.” Later, Fernández contacted Sánchez directly and confirmed her attendance, attributing the earlier response to a “confusion.” However, no representative from PPSO attended a subsequent meeting with other campaign teams.
On December 27, after promotion for the debate had already begun airing, PPSO informed ¡OPA! that Fernández would not attend after all, citing a “previously scheduled commitment.”
“No pasa nada, están los quieren estar. Cada candidato y candidata sabrán. Ellos son los que quieren ser presidentes, no nosotros,” said Sánchez during the program El Octavo Mandamiento. He added that he understood some leading candidates might skip certain debates for strategic reasons.
Jorge Obando, co-host of the program, criticized Fernández’s decision: “If you have a company and want to hire a manager, you don’t do it without an interview. It’s unlikely; for me there must be consistency (…) It bothers me because as a Costa Rican I want to hear everyone and make a sensible choice, and these things leave me with a bad taste,” he said.
Fernández has faced criticism from other candidates over her absence from debates.
The upcoming debate will feature seven presidential candidates: Álvaro Ramos (Liberación Nacional), Claudia Dobles (Agenda Ciudadana), Ariel Robles (Frente Amplio), Fabricio Alvarado (Nueva República), Natalia Díaz (Unidos Podemos), Juan Carlos Hidalgo (Unidad Social Cristiana), and Eliécer Feinzaig (Liberal Progresista). The event is scheduled for Sunday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m.
