by Rod Hughes

It’s apparently never too early to start running for the presidential nomination. Early maneuvering for the standard bearer of the governing National Liberation Party had the President’s brother, Presidency Minister Rodrigo Arias. volunteering yesterday in a news conference that he has no “serious differences” with Vice President Laura Chinchilla.

Rumors have been swirling around Chinchilla and her supposed candidacy, as well a resentment at indications President Oscar Arias would favor her as his successor. San Jose Mayor Johnny Araya has been especially bitter because he has an eye toward running. All the president has said was in telling the press that he would not be unhappy about a woman president.

But apparently the announcement of Finance Minister Guillermo Zuniga’s candidacy and hints that the administration officials back him caused the president’s brother to declare himself neutral, pleading that the Supreme Elections Tribunal forbids sitting cabinet officials from dabbling in party politics—at least, openly.

As the daily paper La Nacion pointed out today, Rodrigo Arias has wielded unprecedented power in his brother’s administration and from his first day in office Oscar Arias made it clear that his brother would act as his “prime minister.” Not only is he the President’s closest advisor but acts as his chief of staff, as well. Since he is so influential, it is obvious why potential candidates outside the Arias brothers’ inner circle would watch him warily.

Praise from the president for Chinchilla naturally led many to assume she had the inside track. When Zuniga made his remarks to the daily paper La Republica, it provoked tremors in the political scene and probably started rumors that Chinchilla had lost favor with the administration. Rodrigo Arias simply attempted to squelch those rumors by saying, “I have an excellent relationship with …Laura as a colleague on the cabinet. It’s not true that I have serious differences with her.” The he cut off questions.