The NO Vote Takes the Lead in CAFTA Referendum

For the first time, a poll is showing a majority of Costa Ricans opposing the approval of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), according to the daily newspaper La Nacion.

The paper is reporting that 55 percent of the 1,202 Costa Ricans polled will say no to CAFTA on next Sunday's referendum, and that 43 percent will vote yes, while 2 percent are undecided.

Support for CAFTA has eroded during the past few weeks, hurt by a scandal surrounding former second vice-president Kevin Casas and National Liberation Party legislator Fernando Sánchez, after both men sent an e-mail to President Oscar Arias encouraging a campaign of fear to gain support for the trade agreement.

Casas resigned last week.

The poll, conducted by agency Unimer for La Nacion, also found that 27 percent of those interviewed made their decision to vote NO this past month. Moreover, 7 percent said the memorandum directly affected their decision.

Polls last week by the University of Costa Rica and La Nacion showed a virtual tie, but this is the first time in the more than two years of campaigning the NO vote has taken the lead.

The poll has a 3.3 margin of error, and was conducted between Sept. 27 and Oct. 2 throughout the country by interviewing people 18 years and older.