On Monday, the Legislative Assembly approved a motion to condemn US president, Donald Trump, for limiting the participation of various media in press conferences, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed, CNN and BBC .
The proposal was supported by 26 legislators, but it did not have the support of 16 congressmen.
Those who voted against were all from Frente Amplio, except Carlos Hernández, as well as Maureen Clarke, Sandra Piszk, Julio Rojas, Aracelly Segura and Danny Hayling from the National Liberation Party (PLN).
Nor was it supported by Marco Vinicio Redondo, from the Citizen Action Party (PAC), Gonzalo Ramírez, from Renovación Costarricense, and the independent Carmen Quesada.
The proposal by Rolando González, from the National Liberation Party (PLN), condemns any action that may threaten or restrict the circulation of ideas and set direct or indirect limitations to access information on public affairs, since it weakens Citizens ‘confidence and respect for others’ opinions and dissent.
It also reiterates the conviction of Costa Rica that intimidatory actions against the media, without distinction of the country where they occur, undermine the right to information and freedom of people to be informed by the means they chose.
The proposal also urges the Government to promote the immediate intervention of the Special Rapporteur of the UN, Michel Forst, and the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the OAS, Edison Lanza, and also asks the Government of the United States to fully respect freedom of expression.