The Government Commission passed to second debate a proposal presented by deputies: Luis Duke, Janine Prado, Roberto Zúñiga, José Barboni, and Rafael Buchanan. The proposal features a closed list of names for the Plenary to choose the new Ombudsman. From this list of 32 candidates, the other part of the Commission, including President Luis Camacho, Shirley Castañedas, Didiano Pinilla, and Jairo Salazar, argued that all candidates should go to the Plenary and not be excluded after the interviews and evaluations. Deputy Camacho considers this a 'Pyrrhic victory' because it could be reversed in the Plenary through a minority report, which might be presented before Wednesday. Therefore, the selection of the new Ombudsman would be up to the Plenary when its Board of Directors decides. Candidates who will go to the vote in the Plenary: Joel Alexis De León Quintero received unanimous votes to advance. Also approved were Rodrigo Alberto García, Joy Araujo, José Antonio Collado Valencia, Benicia Clementina Chan, Meiqui Luz Quintero, and Alexander Rojas. Deputy Roberto Zúñiga stated that there is a candidate favored by the Executive Branch, Angela Russo, which is why the selection of seven candidates is uncomfortable. Angela Russo Mainieri, one of the leading candidates for the position, was rejected with 4 votes in favor, while Leblanc was left with 3 votes in favor and 6 abstentions.
