Adal Ramones Is Being Sued For Mocking Johnny Araya, Presidential Candidate In Costa Rica

Mexican comedian Adal Ramones was sued in Costa Rica after he mocked Johnny Araya, one of the Presidential candidates for the National Liberation Party, reported news agency EFE.

According to the article, last September 26, Adal Ramones performed a comedic routine where he said he wouldn't vote for candidate Araya and that he wouldn't even trust him "to be class president in school."

Andrey Cambronero, official for the Supreme Elections Tribunal in Costa Rica told local newspaper Nación that an anonymous individual sued the comedian.

"Since in his monologue Ramones spoke about one of the competing candidates, the plaintiff understands that Ramones has violated the prohibition stated in article 19", Nación quoted Cambronero.

EFE explains that the constitutional article says that foreign people can't meddle with the internal political affairs of Costa Rica and are "subject to the jurisdiction of justice tribunals and authorities of the Republic, without them having a right to diplomatic assistance, unless stated by international treaties."

Mexican entertainment magazine TV Notas shared an interview with the assistant of the press department of the Supreme Elections Tribunal who said that any person who does not agree with a comment regarding the "political life" of the country can denounce it to the authorities.

"In this case, Adal's monologue was offensive to the citizen and he came here, to the Supreme Elections Tribunal to file a lawsuit which is currently being valued for investigation, and is in the hands of the magistrates."

On his part, the campaign manager for Araya, Ronaldo González, said that the case was seen with good humor by Araya, since it was a part of Ramones' comedic routine.

"He took it with a smile as a part of the humor that characterizes him, Adal mentioned the candidate's name and the debates on whether to vote for him or not, but he never said he'd vote for him or told anyone to vote for him".

Elections in Costa Rica will begin next February 2, 2014 and citizens will vote to elect 57 Deputies and the President of the Republic.