President Luis Guillermo Solís came down from the second floor of the Presidential House, greeted each one of the legislators who would question him with a smile and was pleased to be sworn in the historic appearance before the Commission that investigates the case of the cement (cementazo).
At 7:13 p.m., thousands of Costa Ricans began to follow one of the most acclaimed political events of recent times. It has been 13 years since Abel Pacheco had to give explanations to legislators and more than 20 since José María Figueres was also held accountable.
Commission President Ronny Monge wanted to set the tone, listing the specific facts that need clarification. President Solis won the first concession, when he was given half an hour for his initial message, instead of 10 minutes. Subsequently, the energy of what appeared to be an earthquake in this case, was diluted.
Solís shook off the weighty issues and read a message that echoed what was said a day earlier at a press conference by the Minister of Economy, Giannina Dinarte: explain their position on what should be the market for cement and the actions he took to achieve it.
Although he was reminded several times that the investigation does not revolve around whether the cement market should be more open or not, but in determining possible irregularities and influence peddling in favor of cement importer Juan Carlos Bolaños, Solís deviated of the central issue, and the legislative commission allowed him this because they came, according to Ronny Monge, to waste time.
Monge was disappointed by the lack of substantive questions from his fellow MEPs.
The Chairman of the Commission was most emphatic in pointing out that Zapote’s order to the BCR around the case has lies somewhere in the chain. Monge also criticized the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade for manipulating information to say cement prices fell.
Sandra Piszk, from the National Liberation Party, expressed concern about the lack of authority and presence of Luis Guillermo Solís, regarding the events that took place both in the change of regulations in the MEIC and in the procedures of the loan in the BCR.