Moderators Moderator_03 Posted February 3, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted February 3, 2022 Quote Criminality in the National Assembly goes unpunished Posted 31/01/2022 Once again, crimes that affected the reputation of people who were affected by the criminality that still reigns in the National Assembly remain unpunished. The Supreme Court of Justice refused to admit a complaint made by a citizen that, without her consent, her name appeared on the ghost forms of the Legislative Branch, but the salaries were collected by third parties without providing any service. If the aforementioned deputy did not hold a political position, surely the facts would have been, at least, investigated to find the culprits, but we verify – as always – that impunity prevails when it comes to the political caste. Others are added to these cases, as there are several complaints – filed by the former comptroller – that await investigations, both by the Court and by ordinary justice, given that several deputies lost their positions in the last elections. It deals with scandalous facts, like embezzlement, but nothing works, everything remains in limbo. How does the Court expect society to believe in the changes it promotes when its sentences say that nothing will change? If you want credibility, you can't destroy with your feet what you're trying to do with your hands. – LA PRENSA, Jan. 31 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/criminality-in-the-national-assembly-goes-unpunished Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted February 7, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted February 7, 2022 Quote Electoral jurisdiction a shield for politicians and criminals Posted 06/02/2022 The electoral criminal jurisdiction has been deformed” to the point of becoming a shield of impunity behind which politicians and criminals involved in high-profile cases hide said the Panama Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (Cciap), on Sunday, February 6. For the Chamber the use of this escape route has been abused, invoking the Electoral Code that stipulates that this “guarantee” applies both to general elections and to internal or primaries of political parties. The union thus joins other voices that maintain that this jurisdiction "was not created to evade justice or as a letter of marque to be invoked whenever it suits the candidate in question." The electoral criminal jurisdiction – emphasizes the organization – was conceived to promote fair and equitable popular elections, and not the opposite. The group recalled that elements like these and their distorted use "were what led us to oppose the battered electoral reforms." The Cciap, one of the principal organizations in the private sector, reiterated that the electoral criminal jurisdiction must be eliminated, since “societies are called to evolve with the times; we cannot justify its existence by the ghosts of the past”. “For a society to evolve and coexist harmoniously, there cannot be superior members, with privileges that subtract them from justice. As simple as that, we must all be equal before the Law” it added. > https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/electoral-jurisdiction-a-shield-for-politicians-and-criminals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted February 13, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted February 13, 2022 Quote President Cortizo - a guest in his own house Posted 12/02/2022 I wonder if the deputies know how to do something other than corregimientos, patron saint festivities, or appoint people to the government. They have nothing to offer; they are a burden that in many cases costs us much more money than a simple salary; they do not watch over the interests of their voters or those of the country; some have criminals named on their payroll; many do not know how to speak and even less write; the level of comprehension of what they read is that of a second-grader; They do not question what is wrong, but what harms their interests, and they are obedient messengers of the worst political, business and even criminal interests. The President of the Republic seems to be a guest in his own house: he approves whatever tome the deputies send him; he keeps complicit silence in the face of the blatant theft of state resources; He doesn't worry if drug traffickers work in his government, because nobody does anything to regulate the credentials to hold public office; know where and what aspiring public servants graduate from; if they have convictions for common crimes or crimes against the State. It seems that our ruler has the authority of a messenger. Political parties have nothing to offer us, and that is a fact. I believe that if we don't wake up by 2024, we will suffer the worst punishment since the invasion. And whoever wins the election, I frankly don't know what they're going to celebrate. We have the CSS on the verge of its complete collapse and this affects all workers and companies that pay fees, as well as retirees and pensioners, and will have to face the payment of large debts, money wasted and stolen in many cases. We will have lost the ability to maneuver and we will bitterly regret what comes our way, because we always wait until the last minute. And when it comes to accountability for the rampage, everyone will be hiding or blaming each other. Nobody will be responsible or guilty of anything, because the State belongs to everyone... in terms of rights... and nobody's... in terms of duties. But perhaps there is hope, although it will depend on who we elect in 2024. If the Panamanian people fall again with more of the same, well deserved we will have the lesson. Although the times are not official, the truth is that we have already crossed the threshold of a long electoral campaign, although - as we all know - the majority of the elected officials in 2019 began their campaign a day after taking office. And, obviously, with money from the State, without the Electoral Prosecutor's Office being aware of it. Let's get ready for this long campaign, which will define whether we want a new and democratic Panama or continue with our self-destruction, fanned by politicians whose greatest talent is to profit economically from our misfortunes.-ROLANDO RODIGUEZ B. La Prensa. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/president-cortizo-a-guest-in-his-own-house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted February 14, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted February 14, 2022 Quote Organized Crime Infiltrating Panama Justice and Politics Posted 13/02/2022 The arrest of a former official of the Judicial Branch – former assistant to a magistrate of the Supreme Court – has revealed how deeply organized crime has penetrated our political and justice institutions. The cooperation that the lawyer offered to organized drug trafficking groups should motivate the highest judicial authority to carry out an in-depth investigation of her staff, since, as we all know, a huge number of her employees have been appointed under the temporary umbrella, having a judicial career that is just beginning. Likewise, the cases in which this lawyer took part as a representative of the Judiciary should be audited, while her former boss should explain to the country the reasons that led her to fire her. This, not to mention that this former official obtained information from her former colleagues, which is also quite serious. For years, some magistrates preferred temporary staff and this has caused such damage that it will take years to repair. Some magistrates forgot that "citizens are the bosses to whom we have to render accounts and not to criminal groups...", as indicated by the judge who ordered the arrest of the former official – LA PRENSA, Feb 13 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/organized-crime-infiltrating-panama-justice-and-politics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted February 16, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted February 16, 2022 Quote More officials in power linked to organized crime Posted 15/02/2022 Reacting to the arrest of a judicial official linked to organized crime former Attorney General Ana Matilde Gómez told TVN: "If we don't want to lose the country, whose political system has already collapsed, we must try to save something in the institutions that can be saved ". The situation is something that had been warned about a long time ago and while it is good that the arrests are taking place, she regrets the fact that there are surely more officials involved that have infiltrated in institutions and spaces of medium and high power. The enormous competitive advantages that the country has, such as the dollarized economy, the Colon free zone, the Hub of the Americas, the ports, the free market, and high connectivity are highly attractive for organized crime. For these reasons, Gómez emphasizes that “ we cannot sleep, if we want to save our country we must continue to fight against organized crime, close the doors through which it enters and once inside, be relentless in terms of persecution. Martinelli’s role “ From the government of Martinelli when the Public Ministry was taken over, he sent a message to organized crime that in this country all business was possible and that politics was the easiest vehicle to access positions, so we have to fight to reverse that,” said the former independent deputy and presidential candidate. On Thursday, February 10, the arrest of a former official of the Judicial Branch and former assistant to Judge Maribel Cornejo of the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court was reported. “This is how organized crime works,” said Gómez “and surely it is not the only one. "The penetration is real because of the attractions that Panama offers, so we must continue to be relentless in the pursuit," Gómez argued, Regarding the statements made by deputy Elías Vigil in the National Assembly to defend his sister Teresina Vigil, who is being investigated in the Damascus operation Gómez said that it is unacceptable , since the innocence or guilt of the people is debate in court." Unfortunately, there are many deputies who wrap themselves in the pseudo-freedom of the seat with the institutional protection misunderstood. Recently, the director of the National Police, John Dornheim, stated that more than 100 members had been dismissed and were being investigated for their apparent relationship with organized crime. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/more-officials-in-power-linked-to-organized-crime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted February 16, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted February 16, 2022 Quote OPINION: Justice system needs to account for mafia penetration Posted 14/02/2022 Although it is a fact that -by Constitution– The Judicial Branch and the Public Ministry have the autonomy to prepare their budgets and integrate them into the General State Budget, the truth is that this right is intrinsically linked to the duty to render accounts. An own budget allows them to have independence, not as it has been until now, which has suffered illegal cuts from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Legislative, despite the fact that the latter should be the faithful guardian of compliance with the laws it approves. This independence provides the balance – checks, and balances – between the powers of the State, but under the principle of accountability. And we refer to the explanations that the Judiciary still owes us regarding the arrest of the former assistant of a Court magistrate who, allegedly, acted as a spy for a dangerous gang, whose members are subject to judicial investigation. How much is the Judicial Branch penetrated by these mafias? Are there more infiltrators? Why was the official under investigation fired? Will they investigate those who provided confidential information? Questions that cannot be answered with indifference.- LA PRENSA, Feb. 14 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-justice-system-needs-to-account-for-mafia-penetration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted February 21, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted February 21, 2022 Quote Colon mayor to bite expenses bullet on Monday Posted 20/02/2022 One month after the mayor of Colón, Rolando Alex Lee, declared that he would "voluntarily" go to the Electoral General Prosecutor's Office (FGE) to answer for an investigation against him for alleged use of public funds in politics, the official still has not appeared reports La Prensa The FGE had summoned him for February 14, but Lee did not attend. The prosecutor in charge of Manuel Del Cid's case will be waiting for him on Monday, February 21, after he managed to notify him to appear, in a second attempt. On December 21, when the FGE announced that it had opened an investigation, he said he would go "voluntarily." A day earlier he had confessed that the local authorities use the mobilization funds (in his case $3,500 a month) to walk in the communities and re-elect themselves to their positions. Alex Lee has been summoned by the General Electoral Prosecutor's Office (FGE) to appear this Monday, February 21, as part of an investigation for the alleged use of public funds in politics. The process originated after the January 20, 2022 declaration that the controversial mobilization expenses are used; otherwise, he added, they "would not win again." Lee receives $3,500 a month in transportation expenses, while 13 of the 15 representatives of his district receive $5,000 in that category, according to figures from the Comptroller General. The exact words of Lee were: “the mobilization expenses are used because here everyone walks in their communities. If not, they won't win again and the mayor who doesn't walk, the representative who doesn't walk, is left losing in his corregimiento”. Then, a reporter asked him if he was saying that the funds are used to get elected again. His response was: “that is the interpretation that you give it, that mobilization expense we see as a work tool to serve our communities”. According to the Comptroller, the mobilization expenses for the mayors and representatives of the country cost $1,026,00 a month, or $12.3 million a year. As a result of the scandal, on January 24 the Comptroller's Office announced that since January 20 it had ordered the suspension of mobilization expenses and began an investigation into their use. His progress is unknown. In an interview with La Prensa, the coordinator of the electoral prosecutors of the first jurisdictional district, Luis Guerra, said that Lee said that he would go "voluntarily" to give his statement, but did not appear. He was then issued a citation ticket for February 14, but he did not show up. But last Wednesday, February 16, the prosecutor in the case, Manuel Del Cid, sent him the second ticket to appear Monday, at the FGE headquarters on East 54th Street in the capital. "I don't think he wants to put himself through the rigors of arrest," Guerra said. “He has to come to the Prosecutor's Office, the rule says that when the investigation is in the hands of the entity that investigates, in this case, the Electoral Prosecutor's Office, it is not necessary to lift the criminal jurisdiction and we can continue the investigation until necessary. I am sure that Mr. Alex Lee is going to come, ”he clarified. Expense reports The FGB has requested reports from the Comptroller and the Treasury Department of the Municipality of Colón on the amounts received by the mayor in mobilization expenses and their breakdown. In addition, he sent an official letter to the Public Services Authority to certify the videos published by the media in which Lee's statements that gave rise to the investigations can be heard. The Electoral Code establishes that the assets and resources of the State must not be used for the benefit of certain candidates or political parties. Lee has said his words were misconstrued. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/colon-mayor-to-bite-expenses-bullet-on-monday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted February 21, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted February 21, 2022 Quote OPINION: Walking the dollars walk to re-election Posted 20/02/2022 The mayor of Colón, Alex Lee, cannot believe anything. In September of last year he promised that both he and 29 of his colleagues and 170 corregimiento representatives would eliminate from their income the collection of paid leave that they enjoy in other government positions. Five months later, all of them are still collecting every penny of those licenses for work they don't do. His second lie is more recent. Lee promised to go "voluntarily" to give his statement in an investigation carried out by the Electoral Prosecutor's Office, after testifying to the media about the use they give to the disproportionate and unjustified mobilization expenses that, in his case, amount to $3,500 a month, while thirteen out of fifteen corregimiento representatives in his district each earn $5,000 a month. Far from going voluntarily, Lee has already had to be summoned twice, and the Prosecutor's Office has warned that if he does not go, he will be taken. Lee candidly admitted that the mobilization expenses are used to "walk" in their communities, "if not, they won't win again, and a mayor who doesn't walk, a representative who doesn't walk, loses in his corregimiento" in the elections. A confession and relay of evidence – LA PRENSA, Feb. 20. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-walking-the-dollars-walk-to-re-election Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted February 24, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted February 24, 2022 Quote In search of mayoralty accountability Posted 23/02/2022 THE MAYOR OF THE CAPITAL CITY HAS EARNED IT. The initiative to revoke his mandate came to him because his management could be described as a complete disaster. And, although there would only be four months to gather the necessary signatures to apply the measure against him, if they are not achieved, it would serve as a kind of thermometer for the mayor to correct courses, which would include approaches with the inhabitants of the district, real consultations, transparency in its management and, above all, be empathic with the needs of its constituents. Contrary to what his administration should be, the mayor has been arrogant, has made serious errors of judgment, because he believes he has the last word in everything, and, in some cases, has even mocked the electorate by promoting citizen consultations that leave much to be desired. The initiative to revoke his mandate puts citizens to the test, who will now have to decide if he deserves to continue in office. These are the opportunities that voters have to assert their vote: if they do not keep their promises, if they are not taken seriously, if they are not consulted, then they have the ideal means to reconsider their decision. It is time to make the vote count. – LA PRENSA, Feb. 23. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/in-search-of-mayoralty-accountability-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted February 24, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted February 24, 2022 Quote Immoral and illegal appointments Posted 24/02/2022 The embarrassing way in which the Assembly approved in the second debate the bill presented by Raúl Pineda (PRD) to legalize the indefinite reelection of the current rector of the Autonomous University of Chiriquí (Unachi), warns us that the deputies don’t, care a damn public opinion. Above all, there is maintaining a network of immoral and even illegal appointments in many cases. According to an independent deputy, the rector was lobbying in favor of the bill, but she did not go to the plenary session to answer about its supposed virtues. Bedroom agreements, that is what has the core of the initiative. The President of the Republic will surely soon have in his hands –for sanction or veto– this monstrosity, which only seeks to benefit people from his party, who receive –once again– income for work that they do not do. The ruler will have to decide whether to support the scoundrel or reject it. And while this is progressing, the one who seems to have sunk into a hole is the comptroller, whose greatest merit is to do nothing. Not even in the dictatorship was there a comptroller so accommodating and good for nothing – LA PRENSA, Feb. 24. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/immoral-and-illegal-appointments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 2, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 2, 2022 Quote OPINION: Millionaire political transportistas Posted 01/03/2022 Undoubtedly, politicians are like vultures in search of the opportunities offered by the State. They look for them to make money quickly and hand over fist. To carry out their business, they obtain the capital from the state coffers, usually by way of dispossession. They steal without any control because in Panama impunity reigns as rampant as corruption. Public transport is no exception. Many politicians have seen in these State concessions a business opportunity that they have not missed, as have many natural persons who, in collusion with politicians, have monopolized dozens, hundreds and even thousands of quotas of various types: from taxis to bus routes. Some have become millionaires. From what we have seen, it is necessary that the laws on public transport be reformed to provide stability and avoid hoarding; to regulate the status of the so-called "levers" and to attend to their labor rights; to prevent usury and abuse; to regulate the concessions and be the State the beneficiary and not the usurers; to provide better service to users; to make the routes and their schedules more efficient. In short, much remains to be done and nothing is being done – LA PRENSA, Mar. 1 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-millionaire-political-transportistas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 8, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 8, 2022 Quote Electoral Court OK’s Mayor Fábrega recall request Posted 07/03/2022 Electoral Court OK’s Mayor Fábrega recall campaign The Electoral Court (TE) has admitted the request to revoke the mandate of the mayor of Panama José Luis Fábrega. The request was presented, on February 22, before the Regional Directorate of Electoral Organization of Central Panama by citizen Roberto Ruíz Díaz. “This request arises due to the lack of transparency, citizen consultation, and due to administrative irregularities and the management of the budget that has been taking place,” said Ruíz Díaz, who has managed to get the TE to admit a request of this type for the first time, reports La Estrella. Fábrega and the Electoral Prosecutor's Office will be notified of the admission of the request and an appeal may be filed, within two business days following the notification. Once the resolution has been presented, the Electoral Organization address will authorize by means of a reasoned resolution, the beginning of the collection of 30% of the required support. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/electoral-court-oks-mayor-fabrega-recall-request Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 9, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 9, 2022 Quote The failure of social security dialogue Posted 06/03/2022 The dialogue for the Social Security Fund (CSS) is a resounding and complete failure. We witnessed how the government appointed a coordinator without any leadership, which allowed the dialogue to be paralyzed from day one and the members to engage in discussions of amazingly trivial issues. That failure is corroborated by the one who until a few days ago was the deputy director of the CSS, who resigned due to the disappointment he suffered due to a dialogue without direction or purpose. Solutions for SSC in the short and medium term do not seem possible and it is a pity that he has not externalized everything that he thought and knew when he was in office. Something could have been done from within. However, his reasons reveal the enormous detachment of the ruling parties from the people, since their intentions to reach a solution to the gigantic problem that lies ahead is just an empty speech to try to make up a cowardly and incompetent government, whose sole purpose is to enrich a gang of politicians. The leaders of this administration have crossed their arms in the face of the imminent collapse of an institution that is the mainstay of thousands of retirees and pensioners. That's how inept they are. – LA PRENSA, Mar 6. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/the-failure-of-social-security-dialogue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 11, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 11, 2022 Quote Pandemic fuels corruption eases support for democracy Posted 10/03/2022 The pandemic has left a greater concentration of power, a greater perception of corruption, and an ambiguous assessment of democracy. The citizenry suffers from severe economic contraction and clings to public services. Gender inequality has deepened in households, and discrimination persists in the country reports a study by the International Center for Political and Social Studies (Cieps). Regarding citizenship and social rights in the face of the pandemic, the survey revealed that organizations are less valued compared to 2019, with the exception of the Catholic Church and evangelical churches. The biggest drop was suffered by organizations. unions. Corruption heads the list of the country's main problems (23.1%), above insecurity, which had ranked first in 2019. Unemployment is in second place (18.1%), and education is in third place ( 12.8%). Insecurity (12.5%) is in fourth place. The study says that the fact that corruption is perceived as the main problem is the product of a regional process that gained strength with the Odebrecht scandal. In Panama, this case involved two former presidents. The study also argues that the pandemic and the health emergency have accentuated the phenomenon. The same reveals that 53.7% of citizens believe that corruption has increased in the last year. "Presumably, the emergency situation and the numerous complaints aired during the pandemic have helped position the issue as the main problem for citizens," explains the investigation. Democracy The study also highlights that support for democracy is low. Something that, according to Cieps Director Harry Brown, "is not new, but it should concern us." “We have found that in 2021 youth are the least supportive of democracy compared to those 50 and older. This should concern us about what are the notions of democracy that the youngest population of the country has”, he adds. The research says that the percentage of people who affirmed that in some circumstances an authoritarian government may be better than a democratic one remained (from 14.7% to 12.6%), or that an authoritarian government does not matter to them. (from 33.2% to 32.9%). https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/pandemic-fuels-corruption-eases-support-for-democracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 11, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 11, 2022 Quote OPINION: Justified suspicions of politicians’ honesty Posted 11/03/2022 It seems like a thing of prehistory that, in the XXI century, citizens do not know details of who governs us. This obscurantism leads to suspicions –and very justified ones– about the honesty of politicians. For example: why can't sworn statements of assets be disclosed, if the purpose is precisely to ensure that assets have not grown disproportionately while a person holds public office? What are they hiding? If someone decides to be a public servant, they must consider that they will lose part of their privacy, so they cannot aspire to keep income or assets secret —before and after leaving the Government— nor can they be considered just any citizen, since they are part of the machinery that governs the country and, consequently, due diligence or "due diligence" on his past and his present, even on what he thinks on some issues. It is what banks practice as the “know your customer” policy. Well, citizens constantly need to "know your ruler." But we cannot do it due to a lack of transparency, which is why, in this matter, we are still in the 19th century. – LA PRENSA, Mar. 11. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-justified-suspicions-of-politicians-honesty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 14, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 14, 2022 Quote In face of corruption and scandals Business Chamber demands open budget Posted 13/03/2022 Corruption cases and scandals regularly uncovered in Panama confirm that transparency, accountability, and the rule of law are far from the ideal of a democratic system says the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (Cciap). The organization promotes that the country, as a member of the Alliance for Open Government, complies with the commitments made, before the international community, through the IV National Action Plan for Open Government. For the Cciap, it is relevant to move to the Open Budget model, in which the Panamanian State, through the Ministry of Economy and Finance is "committed to incorporate best practices when preparing and evaluating budget management." These practices include finding ways to allow citizen participation in budgeting, publishing a budget to citizens, and conducting a mid-year review of the running budget in 2023. "Citizens are tired and disappointed to see how the State budgets are developed and distributed, always with political criteria, which do not respond to the needs of investment and national development," the group stressed. “It is immoral and frustrating to see how state entities inflate payrolls without any explanation, while they neglect public investment,” it said in its Sunday message. The Chamber recalled that Panamanian citizens have the duty to pay taxes and respect the law, but also "we have the right to demand that those who govern us respect the commitments made to provide Panama with an Open Government." https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/in-face-of-corruption-and-scandals-business-chamber-demands-open-budget Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 14, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 14, 2022 Quote OPINION: Justified suspicions of politicians’ honesty Posted 11/03/2022 It seems like a thing of prehistory that, in the XXI century, citizens do not know details of who governs us. This obscurantism leads to suspicions –and very justified ones– about the honesty of politicians. For example: why can't sworn statements of assets be disclosed, if the purpose is precisely to ensure that assets have not grown disproportionately while a person holds public office? What are they hiding? If someone decides to be a public servant, they must consider that they will lose part of their privacy, so they cannot aspire to keep income or assets secret —before and after leaving the Government— nor can they be considered just any citizen, since they are part of the machinery that governs the country and, consequently, due diligence or "due diligence" on his past and his present, even on what he thinks on some issues. It is what banks practice as the “know your customer” policy. Well, citizens constantly need to "know your ruler." But we cannot do it due to a lack of transparency, which is why, in this matter, we are still in the 19th century. – LA PRENSA, Mar. 11. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-justified-suspicions-of-politicians-honesty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 14, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 14, 2022 Quote Lifting the lid off cabinet meetings Posted 12/03/2022 The Minister of the Presidency, through a resolution, prohibited public access to the minutes, files and notes of the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Council. Not that nuclear weapons, wars, or global security issues are discussed at these meetings. And if they don't talk about it, what can be secret about these records? It is understood that issues concerning national security and operations against organized crime and drug trafficking are reserved issues, but what about everything else? What is the justification to prevent society from being condemned to ignorance on issues that often have to do with the commercial operations of the Government? As the Administration Attorney says, except for security issues, everything else must be public. It is the only way that we citizens have to avoid negotiations that are conceived and put together in chambers, while the Cabinet approves them without question. Is that what they fear? To make us realize their lack of rigor, the cronyism that prevails, how little they care about conflicts of interest? They shouldn't worry about that. That is already in the public domain.- LA PRENSA, Mar.12. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/lifting-the-lid-off-cabinet-meetings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 24, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 24, 2022 Quote 1000 days and no job creation plan Posted 23/03/2022 Next Sunday, Laurentino Cortizo celebrates a thousand days as President of the Republic, in the midst of perhaps unprecedented circumstances. Although it is true that governing during this respiratory pandemic should not have been easy, we cannot continue to blame everything on her (or on the previous government). Despite the fact that there have been some successes (for example, in the vaccination process and the modernization of some procedures), as time goes by, the uncertainty in the productive sectors of the country becomes greater. The exacerbated growth of the state payroll, the inexcusable prolongation of the return to face-to-face classes and the existence of hirings of questionable legitimacy, are just examples that contrast with the immense needs that the country has, some of which have been attended with resources obtained through public debt. Now strategies are urgently needed to achieve essential goals and generate jobs for those 416,000 people who, two years later, continue to depend on the Digital Voucher. Have you thought about what will happen to them? $213 million has been spent on consultancies, but none has resulted in a plan for job creation.- LA PRENSA, Mar. 23 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/1000-days-and-no-job-creation-plan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 25, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 25, 2022 Quote Electoral Tribunal denies $150,000 bank transfer to judge Heriberto Araúz Sánchez. Posted 24/03/2022 The Electoral Court (TE) points out that the information circulating on social networks about an "alleged" bank transfer of $150,000, in favor of Judge Heriberto Araúz, president of that corporation, is false. The alleged transfer would have been received by Araúz on the same day that the TE announced its decision to recognize the criminal electoral jurisdiction in favor of former President Ricardo Martinelli , who is being investigated for the New Business and Odebrecht cases. The decision was supported by magistrates Araúz and Alfredo Juncá ; Eduardo Valdés Escoffery saved his vote. “The Electoral Court denies information circulating on social networks and in some media, of an alleged bank transfer of B/150,000.00 in favor of the presiding magistrate Heriberto Araúz Sánchez. This information is false. The Banco General has denied the information on its Twitter account”, the TE wrote on its social networks, at 1:44 pm on Thursday, March 24. Shortly before, at 11:54 am, from a Twitter account with the name @Nancyleon88, an image of the alleged state of a Banco General current account was disclosed, in the name of Heriberto Araúz Sánchez, opened on June 25, 1998, in which a deposit of $150.000 can be seen, made last Wednesday. “This is how the online banking of Heriberto Araúz Sánchez dawned. I don't care if they kick me out after this, but enough of chilling out,” she wrote Nineteen minutes later, in that same account, the tweeter announced that, in effect, she had been fired from Banco General, "for the crime of leaking a personal account... Thank you @rmartinelli, you have good friends who take care of you." The @Nancyleon88 account is already inactive, but many people captured those messages and are circulating them on social networks, so that "Banco General", "Nancy" and "Electoral Tribunal" are currently the three main trends in the country, on Twitter reports La Prensa. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/electoral-tribunal-denies-150000-bank-transfer-to-judge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Admin_03 Posted March 28, 2022 Administrators Share Posted March 28, 2022 Quote Criminal electoral jurisdiction a safe-conduct for corruption Posted 28/03/2022 More voices condemn the controversial ruling of the Electoral Court (TE) that would leave Ricardo Martinelli unpunished in the legal cases of New Business and Odebrecht. The Citizen Alliance for Justice, the Panama arm of Transparency International in a forceful statement, denounced that the magistrates Heriberto Araúz, and Alfredo Juncá, weakened the action of criminal justice allowing the Electoral Court to become "a safe conduct for corruption" reports La Prensa The Citizen Alliance, a civil organization with more than 20 years of existence, also rejected "any invocation of the principle of specialty as a pretext to avoid the action of justice", and stated that as it stands, the criminal electoral jurisdiction is a shield "corrupt and unnecessary" for the effective conduct of internal electoral processes of political parties and movements. On the contrary, reports La Prensa President Laurentino Nito Cortizo, and Vice President José Gabriel Carrizo, avoided questioning the ruling, and with ambiguous speeches in which they mentioned the words democracy and institutionalism, they avoided the matter. In addition to avoiding Martinelli's trial for the New Business and Odebrecht cases, the recent TE ruling has the political effect of putting the former president in the presidential race heading for the 2024 elections. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/criminal-electoral-jurisdiction-a-safe-conduct-for-corruption Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 28, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 28, 2022 Quote Judicial terrorism under Cortizo Posted 28/03/2022 The recent statements by President Laurentino Cortizo are those of a novice. At this point, he still does not have a clear plan for what his government will do about the progressive increase in fuel prices, something that is not surprising, given the uncertain course of his government after two years in office. He is not even capable of adopting a clear position on the ruling of the Electoral Court that maintains electoral jurisdiction for Ricardo Martinelli. What does the president really mean when he says that his government has strengthened the institutional framework? It is under his administration that state bodies have managed public funds and then have systematically refused to be held accountable. Added to this is the fact that he has allowed judicial terrorism to prevail, especially against the media, journalists, and opinion-makers. His government has not even made an attempt to promote legislative reforms to stop it. And, as if that were not enough, having had the possibility of vetoing the electoral reforms in order to eliminate once and for all the abuses that are committed under the pretext of the electoral criminal jurisdiction, he did not do it, rather, he supported it with his sanction. Apparently, the institutional framework is as important to him as the well-being of citizens. Except for the members of the PRD and their political accomplices. – LA PRENSA, Mar. 28. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/judicial-terrorism-under-cortizo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 28, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 28, 2022 Quote In search of an Electoral Judge with integrity Posted 27/03/2022 On December 5, 2019, María Eugenia López Arias -together with four substitute magistrates- took office as a member of the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ). That day, the President of the Republic said: “You are here for your merits. owing to the Constitution and to the laws of the country. They are absolutely not owed to anyone else.” As the facts have shown that in electoral justice there are those who do not understand the same thing, the Supreme Court has the opportunity to show the country that that challenge from the president two years and three months ago will prevail. Panama does not have to continue to exist in spite of its institutions, but thanks to them, and that the Court, which is competent to hear aspects such as the application of the principle of specialty, be the one that pronounces and not those who have taken that attribution by assault. This year, the CSJ is responsible for appointing Heriberto Araúz's replacement, who ends his term as magistrate of the Electoral Tribunal in November. The Court has a responsibility to ensure that the new judge has the necessary integrity to carry out that position with dignity. Just as opportunity is a fundamental factor in perpetrating fraud, it is also a fundamental factor in improving – LA PRENSA, MAR. 27. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/in-search-of-an-electoral-judge-with-integrity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 31, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 31, 2022 Quote Supreme Court should fire TE judges who let ex-president off the hook - analyst Posted 30/03/2022 For analyst José Eugenio Stoute, the ruling of the Electoral Court (TE) that grants criminal electoral jurisdiction to former President Ricardo Martinelli has two extremely serious implications reports TVN. The first is that magistrates Alfredo Juncá and Heriberto Araúz allegedly committed the crime called "prevarication "that occurs when a ruling is issued, knowing that it is against the law in the sense of having ruled on the principle of specialty. He stressed that both magistrates knew that because magistrate Eduardo Valdés Escoffery had made a presentation explaining why the Electoral Court could not give an opinion on it because that is not the responsibility of the institution. "I think that the Supreme Court of Justice should remove them from office, investigate them and condemn them in an exemplary manner," said the analyst, indicating that the actions of the magistrates cast a cloak of impunity over the former president. He stressed that the two magistrates knew that the principle of specialty to which they referred does not exist and it was not their responsibility to issue a ruling on it. “This is so serious that the Odebrecht case and New Business arose before the party existed, which means that you can rob a bank today and then found a political party and say: you can't judge me, that's the way it is. what has happened here is very serious,” said Stoute. He argued that the blow that has been given to the democratic credibility of the country is total, assuring that it is worthless for Araúz to leave his post in December because the damage has already been done, and what is happening is very serious, especially because if The Electoral Court does not have the full confidence of the citizens, it does not work, it is not a guarantor of the electoral results. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/supreme-court-should-fire-te-judges-who-let-ex-president-off-the-hook-analyst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 31, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted March 31, 2022 Quote Judge named for constitutionality lawsuit on Electoral Tribunal ruling Posted 30/03/2022 Judge Maribel Cornejo Batista is the rapporteur of the unconstitutionality lawsuit filed by lawyer Linda Guevara González, against the decision of the Electoral Court (TE) to maintain the electoral criminal jurisdiction in favor of former president Ricardo Martinelli reports La Prensa. The lawsuit was presented by Guevara, in her own name and representation, was assigned to Cornejo's office on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 29. José Blandón, president of the Panameñista party , announced that this group will also present a similar lawsuit next Monday. Guevara's lawsuit asks that the Resolution of March 22, 2022, signed by Heriberto Araúz and Alfredo Juncá , magistrates of the TE, be declared unconstitutional, which suspends a decision of the Second Administrative Electoral Court that, a month earlier, had ordered to lift the jurisdiction Martinelli electoral prison. Judge Eduardo Valdés saved his vote. Araúz and Juncá's decision prevents Martinelli from being prosecuted for the New Business and Odebrecht cases. The claim of unconstitutionality is based on the fact that Araúz and Juncá do not have jurisdiction to decide on the validity of the principle of specialty contained in the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and Panama , agreed in 1904. The Department of State of the United States - a country that extradited Martinelli in 2018- stated two years ago that the principle of specialty was no longer applicable to Martinelli, given that the former president had incurred the exception grounds described in the 1904 treaty. In his saving vote, Judge Valdés warned that it is "totally inadmissible" for the TE to delve into the substantive analysis of the application of the specialty principle. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/judge-named-for-constitutionality-lawsuit-on-electoral-tribunal-ruling-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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