(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Costa Rican adults could ratify a commerce treaty with the United States, the Dominican Republic and other Central American nations in this month’s referendum, according to a poll by Universidad de Costa Rica. 47.1 per cent of respondents would vote in favour of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), while 39.5 per cent would vote against it.

In May 2004, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua agreed to the CAFTA with the U.S. The Dominican Republic followed suit in August. The agreement—which would reduce or eliminate taxes and tariffs on imports—must be approved by each country’s legislative branch. To date, Costa Rica remains the only country that has not ratified the CAFTA.

Óscar Arias—a member of the National Liberation Party (PLN)—won the February 2006 presidential election with 40.92 per cent of all cast ballots. He was sworn in as president for the second time in May 2006. Arias supports the CAFTA but promised to put its ratification to a nationwide vote. The plebiscite—which can only be binding if at least 40 per cent of all registered voters take part—is scheduled for Oct. 7.

On Sept. 22, Costa Rican vice-president Kevin Casas tendered his resignation over a controversial memorandum about the pro-CAFTA campaign. Arias expressed disappointment, saying, "I regret losing one of my best ministers. In the government we have lost a capable, efficient and hard-working person."

In his memorandum, Casas recommended linking the main activists of the "No" side with specific figures of the left, such as Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez and Cuban president Fidel Castro. Arias claimed that Casas’ ideas were "suggestions that were never implemented."

Polling Data

How will you vote in the referendum on the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)?

Source: Universidad de Costa Rica
Methodology: Interviews with 711 Costa Rican adults, conducted from Sept. 5 to Sept. 11, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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