New Delhi, Sept. 23 -- Costa Rica's Congress fell short Monday of the supermajority required to strip President Rodrigo Chaves of immunity in order to prosecute him on corruption charges.

Chaves' opposition needed a 38-vote supermajority, but only managed 34 votes in favor of lifting the president's immunity. Twenty-one lawmakers voted against the effort and two more were absent. It was the first time such a vote had occurred about a sitting president in Costa Rica's history.

Prosecutors allege that Chaves pressured a video producer who had been awarded a contract by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration to give a portion of that money to a former campaign adviser.

Chaves has denied any wrongdoing and says he is the victim...