Case Closed: Presidenta Absolves Liberman and Garnier

Presidenta Laura Chinchilla yesterday issued two resolutions absolving vice-president, Luis Liberman, and the minister of Education, Leonardo Garnier, of any wrongdoing. See Presidential Ethics



The presidential resolution says that the state Procuraduría used legal rules not applicable in law in declaring Liberman and Garnier having violated Ethics with respect to the "reference letter" on behalf of the Procesos company owned by owned by Flor Isabel Rodriguez, wife of former Finance Minister Fernando Herrero.

The resolution is based on a legal analysis of lawyers for the Presidencia, signed by the Presidenta, as the official response to the report by the Procuraduría de la Ética issued on June 26, warning of ethical failures by both officials.

The presidentia report concludes that "there are no grounds for initiating an administrative proceeding against Garnier for his actions, both ethically and legally".

As to Liberman, the report says "because the law does not provide penalties for such officials (the vice-president) and his behaviour is was within the legality and ethics".

The Government insisted that the report of Procuraduría "confuses" legitimate letters of reference or recommendation prohibited in national legislation which are used for illegal appointments or illegal benefits of specific individuals.

Basically, according to Casa Presidencial, letters of reference are ok when they are general in nature and only seek the certify the performance of a person or entity.