The internationalist Antonio Barzuna Thompson came into the public spotlight as a representative of those affected by the closure of Coopeservidores, but His political career rose rapidly.: At the end of 2025 he was elected candidate for deputy of the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO) for San José in seventh place and, on February 1, was elected to that position.
Barzuna, 48 years old and Lebanese originsspoke with Sunday Magazine about the projects that he will promote from his seat, his position on the delivery of the Mandatory Complementary Pension Regime (ROP)the sale of the BCR, Fanal and part of the shares of the National Insurance Institute (INS).
This is an excerpt from the interview; see in this link the entire conversation. To find the most recent editions of Sunday’s interview visit nation.comthe channel Spotify or the channel YouTube of The Nation.
—What is your position on the project for the delivery of the ROP?
— He ROP is a pension system, it is not savings! I agree with the return of the ROP for special cases, for example, when the person demonstrates that they have a serious illness. Specific and specific cases.
“If you return the ROP without doing the corresponding actuarial studies, by definancing the ROP, what you are going to do is punish the people who are contributing, those who come behind. It’s not fair.
“It seems to me that information is needed, actuarial studies are needed to know how much we can extend the return of that ROP.”
Elected deputy Antonio Barzuna explains his position on delivery of the ROP
— Is there any other scenario in which you would agree to submit the ROP? For example, there has been talk of debt.
—It seems to me that it should focus only on very specific cases of serious illnesses. However, we still need a lot of information, especially actuarial, to have a definitive position on the matter.
“I don’t see a risk of bankruptcy in the BCR, it seems to me that it is a very stable entity, but it seems to me that selling it is an opportunity”
— Antonio Barzuna, elected PPSO deputy
—Do you agree with the sale of state assets? For example, BCR, Bicsa, Fanal, INS actions…
— I agree with the sale of state assetsI agree with the sale of the BCR, I agree with Mrs. Laura’s government plan that proposes selling the BCR to strengthen the Fund’s IVM. I agree with that.
“It seems to me that the function that the National Bank performs throughout the country is sufficient to provide financial services to all Costa Ricans, no matter how remote the area is. The BN does it very well and it seems to me that we have duplication.”
—Should the BCR be sold because it is an opportunity, or because there is a risk of bankruptcy, as Mrs. Laura Fernández pointed out?
— I do not see a risk of bankruptcy in the BCRIt seems to me that it is a very stable, very strong financial entity, but it seems to me that it is an opportunity to strengthen the IVM of the Fund.
READ MORE: Laura Fernández will try to sell the BCR ‘before it goes bankrupt’ to support pensions
— With your experience in the insurance area, do you agree with the sale of INS share capital?
— I would agree, but with the exception that it were, for example, for pension operators: the operators have to invest their money to have returns and I would agree to a sale of INS shares to them, not the majority, but a minority percentage. At the end of the day, we Costa Ricans ourselves are the owners of the operators.
“I also agree with the sale of Bicsa, Fanal and other State assets.”
