Kevin Casas, second Vice-President resigned as Planning Minister earlier this week admist allegations of scandal inlight of campaigning by the government in relation to the CAFTA (Central American Free-Trade Agreement) referendum. However, he still holds his Vice-Presidency position.

This all started earlier this week when a leaked email from Casas that was intended for President Oscar Arias and his brother Rodrigo Arias was brought to the attention of the press. The email, which was written in conjunction with National Liberation Party legislator Fernando Sanchez, detailed tactics that were potentially illegal in advertising the CAFTA wih the United States that will be put to referendum on October the 7th.

The email details the threats to mayors that would be used that if their cantons did not approve CAFTA, then their funds would be cut and that the government should try to implement fear into the public about the consequences of not voting in favor of this treaty. Casas also identifies how to get around restrictions in regards to using public sources during campaigns by suggesting that the government tried to pull wool over the eyes of the Supreme Elections Tribunal.

Both the President and Rodrigo Arias both distanced themselves from the views projected by Kevin Casas in the leaked email stating that they did not in any way agree with them or have any intentions of implementing them. He defended both Casas and Sanchez before thanking Casas for his resignation from the Ministry so that the investigation into the leaked email could go forth in its "broadest, clearest and surest form.".

Current polls look to predict that the CAFTA will be voted in on October 7th, however with this new spanner in the works, it could swing the balance the other way.

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