More voices join the popular clamor for transparency and objectivity in the selection process of the new Attorney General of the Public Ministry.
The Costa Rica Integral Association, attached to Transparency International, asked citizens to be vigilant about the appointment of the new head of that institution at a time when the credibility of the Judiciary is in question.
Apart from asking the magistrates to elect the new prosecutor based on reports and merits, the association asked to reinforce the Deputy Prosecutor’s Office of Probity, Transparency and Anticorruption (Fapta) to continue the progress made recently.
In a situation plagued by questions to the integrity of some members of the Judicial Power, we believe it’s essential that an independent Attorney General be selected, with high moral quality and solid professional competencies. The person who is appointed will have the urgent task of maintaining the progress made in recent months in the investigation and criminal prosecution of high-impact cases, as well as strengthening FAPTA’s research capabilities, always guaranteeing full respect for the due process,”
cites the statement, signed by Eduardo Núñez, president of Costa Rica Íntegra.
Two weeks ago, said association presented the Report on the 2017 Perception of Corruption, where they highlighted stagnation in the efforts made by the Costa Rican State to improve the indicators.
The Justice Forum also (grouping of different blocks of professionals in criminal sciences) called for transparency and responsibility in the appointment.
The five candidates to the position are: Emilia María Navas Aparicio (current general prosecutor ai), Manuel Gerardo Fallas Calderón, Guillermo Antonio Hernández Ramírez, Alberto Ramón Montero Loaiza and Ronald Eduardo Safe Mena.
On Friday, the appointments committee concluded with the interviews with four of the candidates. However, Emilia Navas’ appointment was rescheduled for next Friday due to the death of her father.
The participating magistrates are Carmen María Escoto Fernández (Vice President of the Court), Julia Varela Araya, Luis Guillermo Rivas Loáciga, Jesús Ramírez Quirós and Paul Rueda Leal.
After that process, the commission will propose a shortlist of candidates to submit it to a private vote in a plenary session, whose discussion will be public.