Oscar Arias declared on Tuesday that he didn’t see any need for Jose Maria Figueres to return to the country to answer questions about his involvment in the Alcatel - ICE corruption scandal.  Figueres received $ 900,000 in consulting fees from a firm hired by Alcatel to "increase market share" in Costa Rica’s telecommunications monopoly.

"José María doesn’t have to come back because he has not been accused of anything. I think he should come, but it has to be his decision.  Not when we force him to come on a given day. He has said he will come, but he wants to take his time because he doesn’t think it is the right moment and I respect that. " 

This is a drastic change of opinion for Arias, who in October of 2004 said that the actions of Jose Maria Figueres "are a betrayal of the ideals of the party and the inheritence of Don Pepe. I am going to ask the party structure to expel José María".

The other candidates finally agreed on something, that Arias is wrong to change his mind:

Ottón Solís, PAC Candidate:

He should come, he who owes nothing, fears nothing. I understand why Óscar fears the legislative commissions, because that was where they revealed the dirty money that financed his first campaign. 

Otto Guevara, Libertarian Candidate:

Arias first asked for his expulsion and then changed his mind, because now it doesn’t matter.  He doesn’t have a firm position against corruption or impunity and shows the typical conformity of a traditional politician.

Ricardo Toledo, PUSC Candidate:

Many of us have gone to the commission, but he doesn’t want Figueres to come because don Óscar is dictatorial; he doesn’t believe in the First Power of the Republic. He only sees them as useful fools who will vote for what he tells them to.

Antonio Álvarez, UPC Candidate:

It is nefarious and scandalous that an expresident and candidate recomends someone not to come and face the questioning. If this is the ethical level that the PLN continues at, then it is a terrible precedent for  the country. 

José Manuel Echandi, PUN Candidate:

The declarations of Arias are inconsistent. A few months ago he wanted heads to roll and now he defends him. This is pure desperation to get 40% of the vote and the support of the "figuerists" that aren’t very happy with him.