The Party Sovereign People (PPSO) announced this Thursday that the Board of Directors of the Legislative Assembly will be made up only of deputies from his political faction. The 31 seats that the ruling party has allow it to elect all the positions without the need to negotiate with the opposition benches.
The Board of Directors will be distributed between two evangelical pastors, two former leaders of the Executive, the secretary of the Government Council and a figure with local political experience. These are the names and positions of those who will handle the reins of Congress starting May 1, during the period 2026-2027.
Religious profiles and experience in the Executive
The Presidency of Congress will be in the hands of Yara Jimeneza 52-year-old lawyer and notary, who currently serves as Secretary of the Government Council. Her candidacy was announced on February 17, after a meeting between the ruling party and the president-elect, Laura Fernández, and President Rodrigo Chaves.
The vice presidency will fall to Emerald Britton62 years old, who occupied the executive presidency of the Social Protection Board (JPS), until his resignation on July 30, 2025to aspire to a deputation.
In the first secretariat it was agreed to appoint the evangelical pastor Gerald Bogantes49 years old. While the second secretariat would be under the direction of Reynaldo Arias61 years old. The businessman has political experience, having served as councilor of Pococí (1998-2002) and municipal president (1998-1999).
In the case of the pro-secretariats, the first of these will be assumed by the evangelical pastor Kattia Mora50 years old, and in the second, Nayuribe Guadamuzformer Minister of Culture, who She was removed from office by President Chavesin June 2024, for processing a declaration of cultural interest for the LGTBI+ pride march “without the authorization of the president or his office.”
Unanimous election and turnaround against the opposition
Nogui Acosta, future head of the Chavista bench, affirmed that the election of the six positions on the Legislative Board was done in a “unanimous”after in recent weeks “not only the legislative context, but also the way in which we are going to approach the Board” was being analyzed.
The decision contrasts with what Acosta declared 24 hours earlier to The Nationwhen he stated that although he had not discussed the issue with the spokespersons of the four opposition parties, there was openness to forming a multi-party Board of Directors.
“Let’s see what they decide. From the point of view of the management of the Assembly, “We are open to discussing the possibility of them being part.”assured Acosta, on Wednesday, April 8, after receiving his credentials as a deputy for the 2026-2030 legislative period, at the Supreme Election Tribunal (TSE).
The Pueblo Soberano spokesperson said that he had already had a meeting with Álvaro Ramírez, designated head of the National Liberation Party (PLN), and that he was managing a meeting with José María Villalta, from the Broad Front (FA), as well as with the single-person factions, represented by Abril Gordienko, from the Christian Social Unit (PUSC), and Claudia Dobles, from the Citizen Agenda Coalition (CAC).
Regarding the deputies who will be part of the Board of Directors, he described them as people who have the knowledge, values and expertise necessary “to be able to undertake the reforms required by the administrative part in the Legislative Assembly, and resolve a problem of recent months, with appointments that have not been completely adhered to legality.”
Break with multiparty tradition
Pueblo Soberano’s decision to control all positions on the Board of Directors breaks with a tradition of more than 20 years.
The last time a similar situation arose was during the government of Miguel Ángel Rodríguezof the Christian Social Unity Party (PUSC). During the four years of the administration, 1998-2002, the Legislative Directory was made up only of Christian Social deputies.
In subsequent periods, there was always at least one opposition deputy sitting at the Board of Directors table. This was the case in the second government of Óscar Arias (2006-2010), when Guyon Masseyof the National Restoration Party, He was a member of the organ throughout the four-year period. The presidency was always headed by the green and white Francisco Antonio Pacheco.
In the first year, 2006-2007, the deputy was also on the Board of Directors Evita Arguedasof the Libertarian Movement.
