Johnny Araya will not represent National Liberation Party in 2016 mayoral race

Ex-presidential candidate and former San José Mayor Johnny Araya Monge on Wednesday evening said he will not seek to become the National Liberation Party’s (PLN) candidate to lead San José’s Municipality next year.

Araya’s announcement followed a decision by justices of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, or Sala IV, to reject Araya’s request to suspend a four-year ban from participating in political activities, imposed by his own party.

Araya had asked the court chamber to suspend that ban pending a ruling on an appeal he filed against the decision by party leaders. A positive ruling by the Sala IV would have allowed him to submit a bid for mayoral candidate.

“I have to be realistic,” Araya told the daily La Nación. “The Sala IV’s decision puts an end to that possibility. It is virtually impossible for justices to issue a ruling before the [PLN] national assembly, where the party will choose its candidates.”

In their ruling the justices said that Araya’s request was inadmissible, and that it is almost impossible to resolve it in time for the PLN’s assembly. Sala IV rulings, the justices said, “usually take up to nine months in cases like this.”

Araya, who ran the capital’s municipality for 22 years, on Monday said he has received requests from other parties to represent them in the Feb. 7, 2016 municipal elections.

He said he will take time to evaluate if he will accept any of the offers.