by Alexánder Ramírez

Deputies from various political groups asked this Monday to turn the page with the discussion of the controversial proposal to postpone the entry into force of gay marriage from next May 26.

Legislators from the National Liberation (PLN), Christian Social Unit (PUSC), Acción Ciudadana (PAC) and independent parties questioned the decision of Congress President Eduardo Cruickshank to revive an initiative, which was already buried, to postpone for 18 months same-sex marriage.

The presentation of the initiative - promoted by 25 legislators from different political forces - entered Congress last week and again polarized the country in the midst of the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. The proposal was initially buried so that it was not a priority on the legislative agenda.

However, Cruickshank, a congressman from the evangelical National Restoration Party (PRN), announced Monday that, out of Christian convictions, a new point of order will be presented that allows the Legislative Plenary to discuss and vote on the controversial initiative this week.

Congressman Roberto Thompson of the National Liberation Party (PLN) said he respects the convictions of Cruickshank and other congressmen. However, he maintained that for the same reason the ruling that the Constitutional Chamber issued in 2018 when it set an 18-month term for deputies to legislate and regulate equal civil marriage must be respected.

"We must be consistent and respect the provisions to which the country is subject in relation to the enforcement of equal marriage," he said. He expressed his concern because it is an issue that has polarized the Legislative Assembly and society.

"We are at a time when we have to concentrate all our efforts to jointly attend to the enormous crisis that is being experienced in the country (...) The most important thing and what the Legislative Assembly should focus on, as a priority, is in address this crisis, and nothing that divides us is appropriate at this time, " he added.

The legislator Enrique Sánchez, head of the parliamentary fraction of the ruling Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC), pointed out that it is almost impossible for the motion to be voted on because it requires 38 votes just to be known.

"This is nonsense. It is enough that we continue to delay the great solutions that this country has by discussing issues that are already settled constitutionally and conventionally. It is unacceptable that we continue to discuss issues that are simply intended to detract from the rights of a historically discriminated population," he said.

He added that while this is happening, there are unemployed Costa Ricans and families that need answers, instead of "continuing to kidnap the Legislative Assembly with a discussion that has no reason to exist at this time."