Costa Rican Evangelical Alliance asks opposition lawmaker to identify pastor who allegedly offered votes for money
The Costa Rican Evangelical Alliance Federation (Federación Alianza Evangélica Costarricense, FAEC) has asked opposition lawmaker Abril Gordienko to identify the Christian pastor who, she said publicly, offered her 42,000 votes in exchange for 420 million colones (about $940,000) during the most recent election campaign.
Gordienko made the claim Sept. 16 on the floor of the Legislative Assembly during an exchange with ruling-party lawmaker Gonzalo Ramírez of the evangelical bloc. According to CR Hoy, Ramírez criticized the traditional political parties, including Gordienko's, for keeping up "old-style politics." Gordienko responded by recounting the alleged offer she had received from a pastor.
"You know, Don Gonzalo, for me it was the other way around. A Christian pastor actually offered me 42,000 votes for ₡420 million. The things that happen, right?" she said.
Ruling-party lawmaker Kattia Mora, who is also linked to the evangelical sector, then urged Gordienko to file a criminal complaint. Gordienko replied that her comment was not aimed at persecuting pastors and said she would go to the appropriate authorities.
FAEC asks that the accusation be made specific
In a statement issued Sept. 17, FAEC said an accusation this serious cannot remain a general reference to "a pastor."
"The general reference to 'a pastor' opens the door to generalizations and unjustly places under suspicion thousands of pastors who serve with integrity in Costa Rica," the federation said.
The organization asked Gordienko to name the person and to submit the evidence supporting her accusation to the competent authorities. It said that if the facts are proven and meet the elements established by law, the case could constitute the offense against the free self-determination of the voter.
FAEC said it does not seek to cover up any wrongdoing.
"If a person acted outside the law, he must answer individually for his actions," the organization stated. But it rejected the idea that a single case should become an accusation against all pastors in Costa Rica.
'No pastor owns those votes'
The statement also defended the personal nature of evangelical believers' votes. The federation said evangelicals make up about 30% of the Costa Rican electorate and that no religious leader controls those votes.
"No pastor owns those votes. Every Christian decides in conscience and exercises individually his right to vote," FAEC said.
The organization said it will send a formal letter to Gordienko asking her to identify the person she mentioned and to take the matter to the authorities if she has evidence to support the complaint.
FAEC said transparency requires both investigating any possible crime and preventing vague accusations from damaging the reputations of those who serve in pastoral ministry with integrity.
