Mario Redondo

After five hours of negotiations and heated discussions, 27 of 49 lawmakers at 8:10 p.m. voted to pass President Luis Guillermo Solís' budget proposal for next year, in an unorthodox Saturday session at the Legislative Assembly.

Budget talks ended in a stalemate Thursday at the Legislative Assembly, with Assembly Vice President Marcela Guerrero adjourning the session at 6 p.m. without a deal. Costa Rica's Constitution states that legislators must pass next year's budget by Nov. 30, meaning that lawmakers will have to work Saturday toward a second and final round of voting.

In a tight 25-26 vote, lawmakers on Monday afternoon voted in a first round of debate against the proposed national budget for next year in a hectic session marked by controversy and heated exchanges.