Moderators Moderator_03 Posted April 29, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted April 29, 2023 Quote No election for those who confuse nation’s budget with their pocket - Torrijos Posted 28/04/2023 “We cannot elect those who confuse the Nation's budget with that of their own pocket,” said former president Martin Torrijos on Friday after being nominated as a presidential candidate by the Political Committee of the opposition Popular Party (PP). “The homeland demands more from of us. Demand for our capacity and work. He demands that we correct the present and ensure a better future for everyone, ”said Torrijos, who seeks to return to the Palacio de las Garzas, but away from his group, the Democratic Revolutionary Party, founded by his father Omar Torrijos. “The homeland demands more and more of us. Demand for our capacity and work. He demands that we correct the present and ensure a better future for everyone, ”said Torrijos, who seeks to return to the Palacio de las Garzas, but away from his group, the Democratic Revolutionary Party, founded by his father Omar Torrijos Herrera "Panama does not want a government that looks for the next turn to steal, but a decent one, that renews trust, decency, and democracy", he said. The former Panamanian president thanked the leadership and the entire PP membership for having nominated him, heading to the next elections in Panama, a nomination must be ratified in the National Congress on July 16. Torrijos said that "he is not surprised by the responsible and courageous attitude of the PP" in nominating him as its presidential candidate, since in the five-year period 2004-2009 they went to government together, "they did well and showed that forces of different political persuasions, who seemed impossible to reconcile, came together with the common purpose of serving Panama and all its people. Torrijos said that in order to achieve the changes he is going to propose, a complete reengineering of the state apparatus will be carried out through the decentralization of the government and the restoration of the method of participation of the communities so that they are protagonists of the solutions. “We will integrate the country with equity. This means that there will be no Panamanians isolated, incommunicado, or abandoned to their own luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted May 10, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted May 10, 2023 Quote Independent presidential candidates must unite or the corrupt will win - Rubén Blades Posted 08/05/2023 The Panamanian singer-songwriter and former presidential candidate (1994), Rubén Blades, highlighted that the groups considered independent have not yet agreed to present a joint offer for the 2024 elections, which favors "corruption candidates ”. In a message posted on social networks, Blades raises a series of questions about the fact that one year before the elections, independent political movements continue each on their own. “I am writing these lines one year after the elections to express the obvious and so far ignored: the 'independents' are not all unified on the same page, nor are they consulting the same little book. That is a formula for failure. Do not blame anyone if corruption represented by the traditional party-ocracy wins, or by proposals without imagination and without emotion that seek to safeguard the 'status quo' by providing it with more efficiency but keeping intact the functioning of the failed administrative scheme of the clientelist state Blades, who came third in the 1994 elections, heading the now-defunct Papá Egoró Party, stressed that the Movimiento Otro Camino party, chaired by Ricardo Lombana, and the independent groups Vamos and MovIn, have not specified a common plan that will lead to the victory of the independents at the polls. He stressed that if they continue with separate strategies, "they will end up facing each other, dividing the independent vote and thus favoring the candidates of corruption." The singer-songwriter raises questions related to why these movements have not created a common front that unites independent voters, the undecided, and those who are in political parties but are disillusioned. He asks when the Vamos and Movin groups will support the candidacy of Ricardo Lombana, who is emerging as the presidential candidate of the Movimiento Otro Camino party. He proposes that these movements should present the reasons why they would not be sure to support Lombana and what they need to do so. Blades warns that these three groups must understand that the longer they take to come together to present a proposal the more support they will lose. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/independent-presidential-candidates-must-unite-or-the-corrupt-will-win-ruben-blades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted May 19, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted May 19, 2023 Quote Call to suspend use of RM party name, logo and flag Posted 18/05/2023 The name Realizando Metas, (RM)which currently identifies the political party created and led by former President Ricardo Martinelli, is in the midst of a controversy over industrial property rights. Om Thursday, May 18, Neftalí Jaén, on behalf of JW Enterprises Inc, filed an appeal before the Electoral Tribunal (TE) to suspend the use of the name, logo, flag, and emblem of the Realizando Metas party. In the letter to the TE, it is stated that the political group has not formally registered the use of these emblems. Likewise, it is stated that the trademark "Achieving Goals and Design" formally belongs to JW Enterprises since December 15, 2020, and that it is valid for 10 years. The party that claims the exclusive use of the brand also states that the political party Realizando Metas has its recognized legal existence since March 24, 2021. "Given this situation that has never arisen before, it is the responsibility of the plenary of the Electoral Tribunal to hear about this controversy as determined by numeral 3 of article 143 [of the Constitution]." Article 143 of the Constitution refers to some of the powers that the Electoral Tribunal has and specifically in numeral 3 it is reflected: Regulate the Electoral Law, interpret and apply it, and hear the controversies that its application originates. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/call-to-suspend-use-of-rm-party-name-logo-and-flag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted June 5, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted June 5, 2023 Quote Top official of RM resigns – “Panama heading to dictatorship” Posted 04/06/2023 Felix Moulanier, the national political coordinator of Realizando Metas (RM), has warned the population "not to be fooled", since in the hands of this group the country would become "another dictatorship", and many of its supporters are forced to protest in the streets, in exchange for nominations to an elected position in May 2024. RM is chaired by its founder former President Ricardo Martinelli. In a letter addressed to Martinelli Moulanier announced his "irrevocable resignation" from the position of national political coordinator as of June 16. “I have been the victim of all kinds of pressure from people close to the party president [Martinelli] to the point of messing with my family, only for me to give up my aspirations and keep quiet about many of the actions that threaten democracy itself. , objectives and purposes for which we founded our political party”, said the note. Moulanier warns that with RM there will be a 'dictatorship' and that the membership is forced to protest in the streets He added that he received precise instructions to communicate to the leaders of the entire country that, by enrolling in RM, they would have opportunities to participate in the primary elections for all positions, without "any discrimination." "Today it has been shown that everything has been part of a deception by freezing some positions by preventing humble people like me from running for a popularly elected position, giving priority to cronyism and deputies with a very bad reputation.” RM would nominate some of the 15 deputies from the Cambio Democrático (CD) party who are part of the faction of Deputy Yanibel Ábrego. In the letter, Moulanier says that those who lead the party "have deceived their bases" and "have shown that they want to come to power to satisfy their electoral appetites. "I ask the members of my collective and the Panamanian people not to be fooled, I know the monsters from the inside and I know them very well and I am convinced that in their hands Panama would become another dictatorship, their desire for power to getting revenge on your political adversaries is greater than you think, very dark days would come for Panama and for Panamanian justice.. Moulanier says that 15 years ago he dreamed of meeting Ricardo Martinelli. He followed him, defended him, and helped him in everything. "Today I have had the opportunity to get to know him up close and he is not the man that people think he is, and the only reason for his candidacy is to solve his own problems and the needs of the people do not matter, The campaign is based on groundless disruptive proposals to continue putting pressure on the Panamanian justice system,” he argued. Finally, he says that he holds Martinelli and those close to him responsible for anything that happens to him, as well as his family and work team. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/top-official-of-rm-resigns-panama-heading-to-dictatorship Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted June 6, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted June 6, 2023 Quote Downpour generates a storm of vituperate tweets Posted 05/06/2023 The flooding in Vía Argentina and Obarrio as a result of the heavy downpour on the night of Sunday, June 4, also caused a confrontation between Ricardo Martinelli, presidential candidate of Realizando Metas, and José Isabel Blandón, of the Panameñista Party. Martinelli on his Twitter account accused Blandón of being responsible for the flooding on the Vía Argentina.” The Vía Argentina flooded by the genius of a mayor who made a joke with Odebrecht, which cost us triple what it should have been and here nobody investigated or said anything ”.He added on his Twitter account that “they also commercially destroyed said road. Who was the mayor? ". While the former mayor of Panama and presidential candidate for Panamanista, José Isabel Blandón, responded through the same social network to Martinelli's accusations." You have to be cheeky and desperate to send a tweet like that. I imagine that the trial and the low vote yesterday have it at the tip of Tafil ”, Blandón said in his account In another tweet, he indicated that "everyone knows that we did works like no other mayor, without corruption scandals, and everyone knows who the most corrupt president was ." Blandón did not miss the opportunity to lash out at the ex-president and also pointed out that “ you come out in the Odebrecht accusations, your children were the ones who confessed in the US to having laundered bribes from Odebrecht, the entire Panama City is flooded and the MOP must resolve. You were president and you did nothing to solve it”. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/downpour-generates-a-storm-of-vituperate-tweets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted June 6, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted June 6, 2023 Quote ‘Incapacitated’ Martinelli wins presidential primary with only 25% turnout Posted 05/06/2023 With only 25% of voter turnout former President, Ricardo Martinelli as expected, won the presidential primaries of the Realizing Goals (RM) party, that he founded and funded, on Sunday, June 4. After 5:20 pm, the national director of the Electoral Organization, Osman Valdés, made the call to Martinelli, to inform him about the unofficial results that made him the winner as RM's presidential candidate. Together with Martinelli, the lawyer Rubén Darío Campos, and businessmen Francisco Ameglio and David Ochy participated as presidential candidates. According to information from the RM party, 234,700 people were registered [until January 31, 2023] and qualified to vote. For the primary elections, 513 schools and 655 polling stations were set up. The results of the Electoral Tribunal reflect an electoral participation of 25%. Around 10:30 am, former President Ricardo Martinelli arrived at his polling place at the Richard Neumann Institute, to vote. incapacity that he took advantage of in the New Business case did not prevent him from voting. Martinelli had a disability and even requested that the New Business trial, which ended last Friday, be rescheduled. Despite the fact that said disability was due to an operation, the former president walked to the polling station without any inconvenience. The New Business case is related to the alleged commission of a crime against the economic order in the form of money laundering, for the purchase of the Panama América Publishing House (Epasa) in 2010, for $43.9 million. In his speech, the former president said that they will not remove him from the race for the Presidency of the Republic. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/incapacitated-martinelli-wins-presidential-primary-with-only-25-turnout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted June 8, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted June 8, 2023 Quote Vamos coalition leaders meet with Ruben Blades Posted 07/06/2023 Independent Deputies Juan Diego Vásquez and Gabriel Silva, founders of the Vamos coalition, held a meeting with the singer-songwriter and former tourism minister, Rubén Blades. The deputies presented their initial plans and vision of the country to the singer who has kept an eye on national political events and at one time mulled the idea of running for president. As they posted on their social networks, the singer-songwriter was determined to support independent candidates for deputies, mayors, and representatives throughout the country. Recently, Blades indicated on his social networks that he considered that an action plan had not been created among the independents for the creation of a common front for the 2024 elections, which would avoid the division of the independent vote. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/vamos-coalition-leaders-meet-with-ruben-blades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted June 14, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted June 14, 2023 Quote PRD chooses VP Carrizo as the 2024 presidential runner Posted 12/06/2023 The presidential candidate of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) for the 2024 elections, José Gabriel Carrizo, addressed his supporters after his victory in the primaries on Sunday, June 11. “ Today the road to victory begins, the victory of May 5, 2024, a new day in which the achievements reached during these 47 months must be taken into account, and reaffirm our unitary path, unity because in unity there has been the key to the country's most important victories, ”he said. He stressed that the PRD's decision to propose him as its presidential candidate arises from the experience that demonstrates the capacity and maturity with which the bases of the party govern, dedication, capacity, and the character of teamwork. He said that he will continue to guarantee food, health, citizen security, and security against climate risks and will face the crisis of the Social Security Fund, as part of his government’s plan. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/prd-chooses-vp-carrizo-as-the-2024-presidential-runner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted June 16, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted June 16, 2023 Quote Martinelli’s presidential “plan B” if convicted of New Business Ricardo Martinelli and his wife Marta after he won the RM party endorsment as presidential candidate. Posted 15/06/2023 The possibility of a conviction against former President Ricardo Martinelli, in the New Business case, which would disqualify him from running in the presidential elections of May 5, 2024, forces the former president to have a plan with an ace up his sleeve. ' so that the RM party has as its presidential standard-bearer and the vice-presidency of the Republic, figures very close to their entourage reports La Estrella. One of the moves in this political chess, which according to sources within the party is not ruled out, is the possibility of running the former president's wife, the former first lady of the Republic, Marta Linares de Martinelli, as a presidential candidate. But in this case, former president Martinelli, who was already elected in his party's primaries as its presidential standard-bearer, would have to give up his candidacy and the party would have until October 29 to make a new application for the position. Another option, according to those close to the RM party, lies with the figure of the young businessman David José Virzi Martinelli (the former president's nephew), who is currently the party's second vice president, and who could be on the party's payroll as a candidate for the vice presidency of the Republic, having Ricardo Martinelli as standard bearer, in case of not being disqualified. Marta Linares de Martinelli, contrary to rumors of estrangement with the former president, participated in the RM presidential primary elections on Sunday, June 4, and attended the event at the El Panama hotel, where, after his election, both, raised their arms in victory. “In the act of Sunday, June 4, they began to bring Mrs. Marta to the fore, since they are preparing her in case Ricardo Martinelli is disqualified” said the source. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinellis-presidential-plan-b-if-convicted-of-new-business-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 3, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted July 3, 2023 Quote “Disabled” Ricardo Martinelli wins low turnout presidential primary Posted 03/07/2023 As expected, former President, Ricardo Martinelli, won the presidential primaries of the Realizing Goals (RM) party, that he founded and funded. After 5:20 pm on Sunday, July 2 the national director of the Electoral Organization, Osman Valdés, made the call to Martinelli, to inform him about the unofficial results that made him the winner as RM's presidential candidate. Together with Martinelli, the lawyer Rubén Darío Campos, the businessmen Francisco Ameglio and David Ochy participated as presidential candidates. According to information from the RM party, 234,700 people were registered [until January 31, 2023] and qualified to vote. The results of the Electoral Tribunal reflect the participation of 25%. 56,000 votes were counted in favor of Martinelli. The “disability” that he used to attempt to postpone the New Business trial did not prevent Martinelli from voting Around 10:30 am, he arrived at his polling place at the Richard Neumann Institute, to vote. Despite the fact that the disability was due to an operation, the former president walked to the polling station without any inconvenience reports TVN. The New Business case is related to the alleged commission of a crime against the economic order in the form of money laundering, for the purchase of the Panama América Publishing House (Epasa) in 2010, for $43.9 million. In his speech, the former president said that they will not remove him from the race for the Presidency of the Repu https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/disabled-ricardo-martinelli-wins-low-turnout-presidential-primary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 12, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted July 12, 2023 Quote New presidential hopeful promises to dismantle current system Romulo Roux, his wife and five daughters Posted 10/07/2023 Rómulo Roux became the presidential candidate of the Cambio Democrático (CD) on Sunday night defeating his main adversary, deputy Yanibel Ábrego, in primary elections in which 50% of the 306,549 eligible to vote voted. Roux, a 58-year-old lawyer, after being told that he was the winner said that his victory goes much further, and fired off a flight of verbal arrows: “It is against Ricardo Martinelli and his entire political party, against the PRD and its candidate, against Benicio Robinson, against the Legislature, against the Executive and against everyone who wanted to maintain a corrupt system... This is a victory against parallel decentralization against the attempt to buy votes," he said. Accompanied by his wife Victoria and their daughters, Roux promised that in 2024 he will dismantle the current political system. "We beat them, we beat them, “They handed out, they promised, and they take advantage of the needs of others. Today dignity triumphed, today conscience triumphed, today we send a loud and clear message that we are going to change this country in 2024” He announced that his national tour will begin this week to seek support for future alliances. In the last two years, Roux has held talks with the president of the Panameñista Party, José Isabel Blandón; and with José Alberto Álvarez, president of the fledgling Social Independent Alternative Party (País). Last night, former congressman José Muñoz Molina, president of the Alianza party, was at the hotel from where Roux delivered his victory speech. Roux, who reiterated that he will not make alliances with the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) or realizando Metas (RM), the political group founded by Martinelli, became the third presidential candidate for the May 5 elections. 2024. RM chose Martinelli as its presidential standard-bearer, while the PRD chose Vice President, José Gabriel Carrizo. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/new-presidential-hopeful-promises-to-dismantle-current-system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 17, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted July 17, 2023 Quote Torrijos promises “no untouchables” if he wins the presidency Posted 16/07/2023 Former President, Martín Torrijos, was ratified by the Extraordinary National Congress of the Popular Party (PP) as the presidential candidate for this group, with 359 votes out of 366 delegates who participated. "Four months and nine days ago I announced my aspiration to the Presidency. Some said that our candidacy was a Picanto, that there was no time or structure, that it was impossible to win," he said at the beginning of his speech. He added "they ignore that mysticism and enthusiasm are more powerful than perks and clientelism. That it is not the size... it is the reason and it is the desire. It is the example that our [soccer] selection gives us. Despite those who said that it was not there was a way to reach the final of the Gold Cup. Yes, we could! We're already in the Final". He thanked the Popular Party “for this honor, for their confidence in my candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic” and went on talk about what he intends to do if he wins the Presidency. "We will face the indolence of the rulers, of some deputies and of the political leaders who have made robbery a way of life and their charges, a shield of impunity." He added: "I am not going back to let the country continue as it is. Panama is no one's business. Preying is over! There will be new rules for everyone where the one who does it pays! There will be no room for the untouchables who they move from government to government.” https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/torrijos-promises-no-untouchables-if-he-wins-the-presidency Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 26, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted July 26, 2023 Quote Over 50% of RM party delegates are Super 99 employees Posted 25/07/2023 The Realizing Goals (RM) party, of former President Ricardo Martinelli, would be sending documents with false information to the Electoral Tribunal (TE) says the party’s former national political coordinator Félix Moulanier, who resigned last month. Moulanier, who made serious complaints against Ricardo Martinelli and Yanibel Ábrego, said that they are posting information that has not happened. “Yesterday they sat down to say: “this is what the president says, so sign to have a record,” said the whistleblower. “But at least they met, because before, the ones we sent to the Electoral Tribunal were false documents of directives that were never given. Martinelli shielded himself in that directive by naming family and friends who protect him. We are 29 members and of those 25 are fully trusted by him and are there to protect him, "added Moulanier. He said that there are 200 delegates in the party and more than 50% are employees of Super 99 "This is their armor." https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/over-50-of-rm-party-delegates-are-super-99-employees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted August 31, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted August 31, 2023 Quote lombana Ricardo Lombana Posted 30/08/2023 The candidate for the presidency of Panama for the Movimiento Otro Camino (MOCA) party, Ricardo Lombana, was hospitalized on Wednesday, August 30 after being diagnosed with pneumonia. After a medical evaluation, they ordered his immediate hospitalization, after arriving at a local hospital at noon. The the doctors' decision was made after being examined and evaluated, therefore, the press conference they had scheduled for the afternoon, as well as the walks for this weekend in the corregimiento de Juan Díaz and in Tanara, will be rescheduled. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/presidential-candidate-hospitalized-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 1, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted September 1, 2023 Quote Martinelli and Carrizo tied in race for the presidency Ricardo Martinelli / Jose G. Carrizo Posted 31/08/2023 Former President Ricardo Martinelli and Vice President José Gabriel Carrizo remain in a technical tie for first place in the race for the oresidency says a poll conducted by La Estrella. The voting simulation, if the elections were held today, showed that the candidate of the Realizando Metas party, Martinelli, would arrive first with 29% of the votes, while Carrizo, candidate of the ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) obtained 28 % of votes.In third place would be Rómulo Roux, Cambio Democrático candidate, with 13% of the votes. With José Isabel Blandón, president of the Panameñista Party Would get 10% and 7% would vote for Martín Torrijos, candidate of the Popular Party. The study was carried out from August 19 to 23 with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3% https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-and-carrizo-tied-in-race-for-the-presidency Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 6, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted September 6, 2023 Quote Current PRD leadership lacks morals and ethics – Martin Torrijos Posted 05/09/2023 The Popular Party presidential candidate and former president for the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Martín Torrijos says he was not surprised by the intention of being expelled from the political party founded by his father, General Omar Torrijos Herrera. According to the presidential candidate, "the current leadership of the PRD is people who know they have no morals or ethics, who have betrayed not only the ideals of General Torrijos but also the fundamental ideology of the PRD that they have abandoned." "Today they are not only talking about expelling me, but they are also talking about expelling many other supporters, who do not feel satisfied or satisfied, who really express their repudiation of the way in which part of the party leadership has come to enrich themselves from politics", he asserted. He said that those who are trying to expel him do not represent Torrijismo within the party leadership. "There are really many more than they imagine, those who are dissatisfied, disgusted and indignant and abandoned by the way they lead the PRD". Torrijos not only spoke of expulsions but also dismissals. " Although they have been dismissing many who do not think like them, or do not support the candidate of the Government, this does not intimidate us and I am sure that we will continue forward". "I have had to endure insults of all kinds, my family has had to endure attacks that border on unacceptable topics; but, in the end, I am sure that time has proved us right," he emphasized. Although he feels pained by what is happening in his collective, he considers that "the feeling of the bases of the party is different from that of the leadership of the party, and they have led us to this point where the PRD is no longer relevant in national politics, but it is the party that is characterized by a vile method of attacking, of disqualifying when they have no arguments they go to the personal. This party leadership has kidnapped it and obeys its own interests and not that of the collective, and much less that of Panamanian society". https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/current-prd-leadership-lacks-morals-and-ethics-martin-torrijos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 9, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted September 9, 2023 Quote Probe into San Felipe with 5 times more voters than residents Posted 08/09/2023 A complaint to investigate the difference between the number of listed voters and current residents in the town of San Felipe was presented Friday, September 8, to the Electoral Prosecutor's Office Members of the Association of Friends and Neighbors of the Old Town (Avaca) expressed that the difference between those who can vote on May 5, 2024, according to the electoral roll, and that of residents registered in the last Population Census and Housing is five times larger. “This leads us to believe that a large number of people have made false statements regarding their residency declarations,” said Octavio Del Moral, president and legal representative of Avaca. “It is a common practice, but it is time for the authorities to take action on the matter. "That they enforce the law, in such a way that the vote is effective, that it represents the community that resides in the area and does not obey interests or people who have no connection with San Felipe." said Del Moral, who added that the ideal is for all 692 voters to vote, as reflected in the National Population Census. According to the Census, there are only 692 people over 18 years of age qualified to exercise the right to vote. However, the preliminary electoral roll of the township reflects a number of 3,900 people with those same qualifications. In other words, the electoral roll of San Felipe contains five times the real and current number of citizens with the right to vote in the district. Luis Rodríguez, national coordinator for receiving complaints from the Electoral Prosecutor's Office, said that there is currently an ex officio investigation following a publication by La Prensa about the difference between the electoral roll and the census in San Felipe. He added that the Prosecutor's Office has already carried out several procedures, including a meeting with officials of the Electoral Court. In addition, a note was sent requesting more detailed information from the Comptroller's Office on the results of the census in this district. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/probe-into-san-felipe-with-5-times-more-voters-than-residents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 15, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted September 15, 2023 Quote Presidential candidates’ views on Minera mining contract Posted 14/09/2023 The debate on the proposed law contract between the State and Minera Panamá, is one of the most important issues facing the country, due to the impact it could have in an area like Donoso, in the province of Colon says La Prensa which has researched the positions of presidential candidates with less than a year before general elections. José Isabel Blandón , standard bearer of the Panameñista Party, emphasizes that the contract that has been presented to the National Assembly should be rejected but does not agree with the mine being closed, since he considers that it is already a reality and we must see how the best conditions are negotiated, but less than 60 more years. Rómulo Roux, (Democratic Change) candidate, thinks similarly but remembers that the mine already exists, and has made a,$7 billion investment, generating 40,000 jobs and representing 5% of the GDP. “It is the largest private investment in the history of Panama. The contract has existed for six governments. Now the contract has been renegotiated with more benefits for the country. However, during the consultation process, some specific issues have been identified that represent legitimate concerns of Panamanians, such as the issue of land expropriation.” The latter issue must be clarified, although it requires withdrawing the project so that the government can agree with the company, make those changes, and present it again. Ricardo Martinelli, candidate for Realizing Goals, spoke along the same lines, stating that if the contract is bad it must be negotiated, but he added that the door cannot be closed to a company that has 7,000 direct employees and 40,000 indirect employees. “Who is going to give work to the thousands of Panamanians who work in the mine and who are going to be left unemployed? José Gabriel Carrizo, candidate of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), has defended the contract, pointing out that it would bring more benefits than harm to the country in general. “This is a contract that will pay Panamanians 10 times more than what they had before, which will guarantee retirees not to earn less than $300 a month,” said Carrizo. Ricardo Lombana, from the Otro Camino Movement, rejects the mining contract, which he describes as “disastrous.” For Lombana the contract is very harmful to the nation. “The deputies still have time to listen to the population,” he argued. Lombana went to the Commerce Committee of the National Assembly to participate in the debate that took place in that State Body, where he pointed out that the mining contract is an “attack” against natural resources, our sovereignty, and our future. Martín Torrijos candidate of the Popular Party, said that public opinion must be respected and people should be allowed to decide on this mining contract, as was done with the referendum for the expansion of the Panama Canal. “The contract implies ceding sovereignty over natural resources and a new type of colonial enclave. I am opposed because the consultation period ended in a simulation since the observations of lawyers, environmentalists, and citizens were not attended to.” Independent, Maribel Gordón is one of the toughest opponents. “There is no rationality in the contract and in the economic order, it is an injury to the Panamanian people. “Who negotiates a contract by giving up so much?” For Gordon, they want to impose a mining enclave in an ecological corridor, which threatens the lives of the population and the ecosystems. Independent, Zulay Rodríguez also spoke against the contract pointing out that we are not a mining country. “There are other ways to reactivate the economy. I propose to resume the dry canal project through Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí.” Melitón Arrocha requested that he be excused due to health problems. At the moment, the mining contract is in first debate. A consultation process was recently concluded in the communities of Colón and Coclé, closest to the project. It is expected that in the coming days, the discussion of the issue will be resumed in the Assembly. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/presidential-candidates-views-on-minera-mining-contract-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 16, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted September 16, 2023 Quote Bases question Panameñista-CD alliance ROUX AND BLANDON await crowning as president and vice-president candidates. Posted 15/09/2023 After the alliance between the Panameñista and Democratic Change (CD) parties was announced, unrest and concern have been generated among the bases of both political groups that aspire to elected positions such as deputies, mayors, and township representatives reports La Estrella Sources in Panameñista assure that the alliance agreed between the president, José Blandón, and the president of CD, Rómulo Roux, has raised concerns among candidates for elected positions, given the fear of being displaced by candidates from the allied party. “All this discomfort in the bases will be felt after both parties make the political alliance official in their respective directorates, and when the various Panamanian candidates for deputies, representatives, or mayors know that their spaces will be occupied by members of Cambio Democrático,” said the source. The dispute over the candidacy for Mayor of Panama between the Panamanian candidate for this position Guillermo “Willy” Bermúdez and the candidate for the CD Génesis Arjona is expected to intensify. "My aspirations are still standing, we actually have a pending meeting with our candidate Rómulo Roux [...] There is a strong candidate also for Democratic Change and that is why the meeting with Rómulo Roux will be interesting," said Arjona. Although it has not been made official, sources indicate that the CD-Panameñista alliance would be led by Roux, that Blandón would be the candidate for the Vice Presidency, and that the candidacy for the Mayor of Panama had been guaranteed for the Panamanian Willy Bermúdez. The alliance between Blandón and Roux led to the resignation from the Panameñista Party of Publio Cortés, former director of the General Directorate of Revenue (DGI), in the last government. Cortés made his decision public through the social network. He recalled that the now CD candidate is a lawyer for the mining company, which in his opinion has violated the legal and constitutional order of the country to the detriment of national interests with the complicity of Panameñistas. MIND CHANGE Roux, who initially strongly supported the signing of the contract between the State and Minera Panamá, changed his position after the alliance with Blandón was agreed and now raises the possibility that the contract with the mining company could be reviewed. Likewise, within CD, not everyone agrees with the Roux-Blandón political pact. The lawyer and member of the National Board of CD, Arturo Vallarino, announced that he will not endorse with his presence “a political pact with a party that, being the government, only dedicated itself to persecuting the members of Cambio Democrático.” After the announcement of the alliance, various political sectors questioned whether Panamanianism had accepted this political agreement with CD, with Cambio Democrático having some figures who have been questioned, pointing to former deputy Carlos “Tito” Afú and Mario Miller; among others, those who aspire to return to the National Assembly. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/bases-question-panamenista-cd-alliance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 24, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted September 24, 2023 Quote Electoral Prosecutor checks phoney voters roll Posted 23/09/2023 The General Electoral Prosecutor's Office (FGE) carried out an inspection on Friday, September 22, in the town of San Felipe, because many more voters voted in the area than the actual number of residents confirmed in the last population census. Salomón Fuentes, Primary Care prosecutor of the Electoral Prosecutor's Office, stressed that there is a difference between the Electoral Registry and the more than 3,200 people who supposedly reside in this district, with which the ex-officio prosecutor's office began an investigation. “We are beginning to consolidate the first interviews and verifications of people who supposedly reside in this district. He will go from house to house,” the prosecutor said. In the words of Fuentes, the objective is to verify those people who allegedly committed an offense by changing residence to a place where they do not live. “In total, we have 439 people more or less identified,” Fuentes said about the people who allegedly may have changed their residence fraudulently. The investigation arose after last month La Prensa announced that 3,900 citizens were registered in the San Felipe Electoral Registry. However, according to data from the XII National Population and Housing Censuses, the total number of residents of San Felipe is barely 1,258 inhabitants. From that amount, we still have to subtract minors and foreigners, who do not vote. For example, according to the census, in the historic neighborhood, there are 957 adults. Of that total, 27%, or 258 people, are foreigners. In other words, in San Felipe, there are only 692 citizens eligible to vote in the elections and consequently, 5 times more voters appear in the Electoral Registry than reality reflects. On September 6, in a note addressed to the Electoral Court, prosecutor Dilio Arcia asked the magistrates to prepare an electoral census in San Felipe. This partial census, according to the prosecutor, would also serve as a “starting point” to hold a larger one, at the national level, after May 5, 2024. Arcia recalled that the last time a national electoral census was carried out was in 1982. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/electoral-prosecutor-checks-phoney-voters-roll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 25, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted September 25, 2023 Quote Martinelli nominates his wife as presidential running mate Posted 24/09/2023 As a person who has known him all his life and who provides him with that balance, is how the presidential candidate for the Realizing Goals (RM) party, Ricardo Martinelli, described his wife Marta Linares de Martinelli, when presenting her as his running mate for the next general elections in 2024. In his presentation speech, the former president of the Republic of Panama pointed out that there are valuable people within his party, but that he has decided that his wife Marta will accompany him on the path. “I understood and began to see that other side of Marta, that I already knew her and thought I did, but I didn't know that very human side, ” Martinelli added. The presentation of Linares de Martinelli took place Sunday in the national directory of RM, who must decide whether to ratify this nomination or not. The nomination must also be presented to the Alliance party. Linares de Martinelli's aspirations for political office are not new. For the 2014 general elections, Linares was designated as the vice presidential candidate by the Democratic Change (CD) party, alongside the presidential candidate, José Domingo Arias Former President Martinelli remains linked to judicial processes such as the Odebrecht case. In turn, on July 18, the second liquidating judge of Criminal Cases of the First Judicial Circuit of Panama, Baloisa Marquínez, issued a ruling where the former president was sentenced to 128 months, equivalent to 10 years in prison, in the New Business case for alleged money laundering. Although this decision was appealed by Martinelli's legal team before the Supreme Court of Justice, he is still waiting for a ruling to be issued, so the possibility of his wife assuming the party's presidential candidacy remains. Background of Marta Linares de Martinelli? She has studied Commerce at Saint Mary of the Woods College in Indiana, United States, and has a degree as an insurance broker. She married in 1978, with Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal. She was the founder of the Women's Front of the Democratic Change Party and was the first lady of Panama (2009-2014) She was vice-presidential candidate for Democratic Change along with José Domingo Arias in 2014. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-nominates-his-wife-as-presidential-running-mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 25, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted September 25, 2023 Quote CD- Panameñista alliance plans to exit Parlacen - Blandon Posted 24/09/2023 José Isabel Blandón, The candidate for vice president of the Republic of Panama, for the alliance between the Panameñista Party and Democratic Change (CD) in the next general elections, referred to the intentions of former president Juan Carlos Varela de run as a candidate for deputy for the Central American Parliament (Parlacen). According to Blandón, the application of Panameñista candidates to Parlacen will be next October 1, adding that any Panameñista who has been registered for more than five years and who does not have an impediment, can be a candidate for Parlacen widely regarded as a bolt-hole for politicians facing judicial problems. “We do believe that Panama should leave Parlacen. What must be clear, and will be clear today, is that the position of this alliance is for Panama to leave Parlacen,” he indicated on Sunday, September 24. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/cd-panamenista-alliance-plans-to-exit-parlacen-blandon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted October 4, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted October 4, 2023 Quote Martinelli claims “political persecution as TE nixes wife’s run for VP Posted 02/10/2023 Former President and current presidential candidate Ricardo Martinelli resurrected his “Political persecution” mantra on Sunday, October 1 in a 45-second message on social media after receiving a warning from the Electoral Tribunal (TE), that the candidacy of Marta Linares de Martinelli for the vice presidency, by the coalition made up of the Realizing Goals (RM) and Alianza parties, will be rejected if not comply with numeral 4 of article 337 of the Electoral Code. Faced with the warning, the presidential candidate for RM and Alianza, alliance Ricardo Martinelli, denounced on the social network X that the Electoral Court had already rejected his wife's vice-presidential candidacy. “Today the electoral process opened and all parties can enter their candidates in the so-called Plagel of the Electoral Tribunal. We were very surprised that a huge number of candidates entered, including Vice President Marta Linares de Martinelli and she was rejected, for reasons unknown to me,” said Martinelli. Later he added: “We would not like to think that this has anything to do with the political persecution that has been mounted on us and is going to tarnish the electoral process, which I hope is as clean and transparent as possible and does not become a campaign of persecution.” politics to remove opponents from the political arena.” Numeral 4 of article 337 of the Electoral Code refers to the requirements that candidates for president and vice president must meet, which must not be included within the impediments or conditions of ineligibility indicated in articles 192 and 193 of the Political Constitution. Both parts of the articles refer to the ineligibility of relatives in the fourth degree of consanguinity or second degree of affinity of the president of the Republic, both to be President or vice president of the Republic. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-claims-political-persecution-as-te-nixes-wifes-run-for-vp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted October 4, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted October 4, 2023 Quote Martinelli alleges hairy hand in Electoral Tribunal Posted 03/10/2023 On Sunday, October 2 Marta Linares de Martinelli presented a formal nomination before the Electoral Tribunal (TE), as a candidate for the vice presidency of Panama for the coalition of the "Realizando Metas" (RM) Alianza parties. She was accompanied by her husband, presidential candidate Ricardo Martinelli. The TE will have until Thursday, to decide whether to accept the nomination Martinellis' decision to go in person to the TE to deliver documentation was due to the fact that last when the vice-presidential candidate tried to make the application digitally, the TE's electronic application system issued a warning that her application could be rejected for not complying with numeral 4 of article 337 of the Electoral Code. Numeral 4 of article 337 of the Electoral Code refers to the requirements that candidates for president and vice president of the Republic must meet, which must not be included within the impediments or conditions of ineligibility indicated in articles 192 and 193 of the Political constitution. Both parts of Article 192 and Article 193 of the Constitution refer to the ineligibility of relatives in the fourth degree of consanguinity or second degree of affinity of the president of the Republic, both to be president and vice president of the Republic. Prior to the presentation of the documentation as vice-presidential candidate, both Linares de Martinelli and former president Ricardo Martinelli expressed their doubts about the transparency of the current electoral process and the ex-president said he was concerned about the possibility of fraud. “I have no confidence... zero confidence, this is the harbinger of an electoral fraud planned by people who have a hairy hand in the Electoral Court,” to reject the application said Martinelli. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-alleges-hairy-hand-in-electoral-tribunal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted October 5, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted October 5, 2023 Quote Tribunal clears path for Martinelli’s wife to be presidential running mate Posted 04/10/2023 The Electoral Tribunal (TE) has admitted the nomination of Marta Linares de Martinelli as a candidate for vice president of the Republic of Panama, of her husband Ricardo Martinelli, who is the presidential candidate for Realizing Goals (RM) and Alianza. The news was announced by Alma Cortés, lawyer and RM activist, during a protest in front of the TE facilities in Ancon, on Wednesday, March 4. Marta Linares de Martinelli went to the Electoral on Monday to present her application manually, after it was rejected through the technological platform. The TE confirmed to La Prensa that the application was admitted. They added that the resolution will be published in the Electoral Bulletin on Thursday and from the next day, it can be challenged for three days. That is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For analysts and former magistrates of the TE, such as Guillermo Márquez Amado, this nomination challenges the Constitution itself and the Electoral Code. Márquez Amado recalled that the regulations indicate that someone who has a fourth degree of consanguinity or a second degree of affinity with the President of the Republic cannot be elected as vice president. This would apply to the Martinelli spouse. Furthermore, if the former president wins, his wife will not be able to be part of the Cabinet Council, as corresponds to the vice president of the Republic. “This means that people who are related, such as parents and children, grandparents, and uncles, cannot be candidates. The Supreme Court said in 2015 that when a kinship relationship like that is mentioned, it is understood that that of a spouse is also included. It is completely illogical that the father cannot designate the son but can designate the wife,” he pointed out. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/tribunal-clears-path-for-martinellis-wife-to-be-presidential-running-mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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