Francisco Prendas is the candidate for the vice-presidency of Costa Rica representing the National Restoration Party (PRN) whose presidential candidate is Fabricio Alvarado. Francisco stated that their party would much rather choose heterosexuals as members of his government (ministers or executive presidents in public institutions) than a homosexual person, to avoid “offending the majority of Costa Ricans”. These statements were made during an interview on the Teletica Radio program “Malas Compañias” conducted by journalists Ignacio Santos and Armando Gonzalez.

Page 14 of the PRN government plan reads: “Naturally, suitability for the position on its own can not be put ahead of values, to be able to compete for a key position in the government, they must adhere to our basic ideological principals and the parameters established in this work plan”.

In reference to the prior, journalist Ignacio Santos asked: “After May 8, (when the new government is officially in place), when choosing a person for a government position between two people with more or less the same qualifications, could a gay person be selected in a government of Fabricio Alvarado?

Prendas answered: ¨Its n’ot because of their sexual preference, but because of this I´m going to tell you: I see it as something difficult, not because of their sexual preference, because there are many (homosexuals) currently among the public servers, which we are not going after. If their position is secured they will continue working with no problem, what we are going to ask is for them to ¨focus on this¨.

The thing is that the majority of Costa Ricans, who are not in favor of gay marriage or adoption by same sex couples, see in us specific and clear values and principals represented.

If we have two people with similar qualities and aptitudes we would possibly go for the heterosexual.

Because if they are going to organize and take part in a gay pride parade and our minister (Government employee)… What we don´t want is to hurt the values and interests of the majority of Costa Ricans, who if they see a minister taking part of the parade, which they have all the right to do, are not going to feel represented by us, and not just that, they could feel even offended, and we don´t want that.

¨We believe in the contribution of all people, it doesn´t matter who they are, and in this case people from the LGBTI community, it can happen, without this meaning to put that person in a position where they will hurt the interests of a big majority. In other words, they can contribute, they can be someone ideal to offer advice, but in this position in which they represent the interests and values of a big majority, it would be something very sensitive and we don´t need that noise, that division or that aggression¨.

Then the journalist asked: ¨If you named someone and then you realize this person is gay, would you fire him/her?

¨I don´t think so, because if we named him/her it is possible that we had similar values and principals and we would have to analyze which would be the management that this person would have of his public life.

¨If the person does (end up being gay), to keep peace in the government and with the majority of people, he can do it in a private and calm way, that doesn´t hurt the majority of the Costa Rican´s voting for us, and who want us to work instead of argue about sexuality, then I don´t think it will be a problem¨.

Journalist Armando Gonzalez inquired, ¨So, for moral reasons you wouldn´t name a homosexual in a public position?

¨Because we prefer that whoever is named represents with suitability the majority of people, we don´t want the intimate and private life of someone to be the focus of what places him/her in a particular position, he/she can continue with their personal life as he/she pleases, but if his/her personal life, when it is put in evidence to the society, can generate a big division, Costa Rica doesn´t need that.