For the second year in a row, thousands of workers and students marched on May 1 in San Jose, Costa Rica to demand that the government reject DR-CAFTA. This year there were no clashes or incidents. The march began at La Merced park and ended at the Legislative Assembly. Fabio Chavez, leader of the National Federation of Public Service Workers, announced that there will be a general strike on May 16 "to defeat the TLC [free trade treaty] and the right wing." [La Nacion (Costa Rica) 5/2/05; EFE 5/1/05]

On April 26, President Abel Pacheco announced that he would designate a commission of five "notables"—supposedly with no political, business or union affiliations—to study DR-CAFTA and make a recommendation which will help him decide whether or not to send the measure to Congress for approval. On May 5, Pacheco designated the commission's first member, Franklin Chang, a U.S. astronaut of Costa Rican descent. Pacheco said that once he gets the report from the commission he will proceed in accordance with his conscience. [La Republica (Costa Rica) 5/6/05].