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Special Report SPECIAL REPORT Panama: Four months before the elections. Lists, polls and tendencies Panamá, February 2014 BARCELONA BOGOTÁ BUENOS AIRES LIMA LISBOA MADRID MÉXICO PANAMÁ QUITO RIO J SÃO PAULO SANTIAGO STO DOMINGO PANAMA: FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS. LISTS, POLLS AND TENDENCIES 1. ELECTORAL OUTLOOK 1.ELECTORAL OUTLOOK 2. A VICE-PRESIDENCY WITH WOMEN'S’ FRAGANCE The electoral process in Panama was officially opened last January 4, 2014. In this single voting system, all authorities will be renewed and 3. LATEST POLLS SHOW CERTAIN voters are called to choose their President, Mayors, Deputies and District TENDENCIES Representatives. 4. CONCLUSIONS AUTHORS In accordance with the electoral agenda, the four candidates, Juan Carlos Navarro, Juan Carlos Varela, José Domingo Arias and Genaro López, have LLORENTE & CUENCA officially presented their vice-presidencies. The Electoral Tribunal has also confirmed three independent candidates for the Presidency of the Republic. These candidates were elected according to the number of signatures obtained, with regards to the group, Panamá Avanza which supports the Cambio Democrático (Democratic Change party), classifying the former leader Esteban Rodriguez and Gerardo Barroso. Gerardo Solís, former Magistrate of the Electoral Tribunal, led the independents’ list. However, he became vice-president of the PRD (Partido Revolucionario Democrático) and Juan Jované (University Professor and economist who belongs to the Independent Movement for the Nation’s Re-foundation) took over his position. Jované, who issued the formal complaint that led to the admission of independent candidates for the Presidency for the first time, went through a legal and media battle in order to be recognized as a candidate by the Electoral Tribunal. Now that the candidates’ lists are completed, the next three months will be key in promoting their proposals and monitoring polls. In the election atmosphere, we can hear the echoes of “dirty campaign” especially in the social networks, comments regarding the investment on advertising of the party Cambio Democrático and the absence of the governmental candidate in the first presidential debates organized by the Media. However, so far, he leads all the surveys of intended voters choices. 2 PANAMA: FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS. LISTS, POLLS AND TENDENCIES 2. A VICE-PRESIDENCY of the agreement of National WITH WOMEN'S’ FRAGANCE Development for Panama. In 2010, she worked as an With regards to the female sector, independent facilitator for which asks for equality regarding national dialogue which was set electoral and ministerial offices, by the government of Ricardo three of the four parties have Martinelli in order to reform Law decided to present women as 30 and finish with the general vice-presidents. crisis that had triggered strikes and violent demonstrations An independent face on the with tragic results. In 2011, stage President Martinelli required her services again to design Last Sunday, January 26, the and implement a consultation couple formed by the Panameñista process to present a proposal party and the People’s Party for a comprehensive reform of presented Isabel Saint Maló as the Political Constitution, which their candidate for the vice- had had several problems since presidency of the Republic. She its beginning, during the 70s is an independent character and under the dictatorship of Omar not very famous on the political Torrijos Herrera, the inspiring stage. However, due to her 15 leader of the PRD (Revolutionary years of service as manager of Democratic Party). the UN Development Program for Panama, she has always had very Her two last collaborations close relationships with several reinforced her relationship with governmental administrations. the supporting team of Juan Carlos Varela, who was at that time the She has more than 20 years’ Republic’s Vice-President. When experience in consultancy and Varela was officially a candidate led the “Acuerdos de Bambito” for the elections, Saint Malo which were the agreements that participated in the alliance plan designed the country’s agenda “El pueblo primero” and joined after the military invasion and the group “Varela’s friends” even Isabel Saint Malo, Vice-Presidential Candidate included politicians from all attending some public activities of the Panameñista Party for the presidential areas of the country, businessmen of this movement. elections and also civils. She was also part of the team that designed the During her candidacy acceptance “Acuerdos de Coronado” which speech, she used her characteristic set the legislative basis for the smooth and conciliatory tone Panama Canal Constitutional to reveal some of her positions: Amendment. This amendment “Gentlemen, we are not talking created the Authority of the about extending paternalism but Panama Canal and turned it into providing the required tools for an autonomous institution. people to develop by themselves. Temporary subsidies are In 2007, she completed her necessary, but permanent ones service for the UN as Director are unworthy”. 3 PANAMA: FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS. LISTS, POLLS AND TENDENCIES Varela’s candidacy is supported Her appointment was not surprising by two personalities of the since the FAD had already ancient Panamanian aristocracy announced it would not join who are also representatives of any other traditional candidates the country’s economic power (by alliances) and that it would and had previously supported the present its own candidates. PRD candidates in the four past elections. The personalities are Candidate Gordón said during Ricardo Alberto Arias, former his presentation, in a strong and Maribel Gordón during the announcement Minister for Foreign Relationships energetic tone, that the FAD’s of her candidacy for the vice-presidency of the FAD during the government of government would be based on Ernesto Pérez Balladares and respect and recovering the people’s UN ambassador during Martín rights that had been sullied by Torrijos’ administration; and the “party-ocracy” governing the Federico Humbert, Panamanian country during the Republic. ambassador in the USA during Torrijos’ government. Both are Another Martinelli for the connected to the Banco General, candidacy one of the most important banks of the country and to the Although the Democratic Party publishing house Coropración has based its slogan on the la Prensa which publishes the strength of the new, in their newspapers La Prensa and Mi list you can see a well-known Diario showing a clear opposition personality of the national to the current Government. scene. Her name is Marta Linares de Martinelli and she is the First An old ally of the working sector Lady of the Republic. On the same day, January 26, Marta Linares de Martinelli comes the newborn party Frente Amplio from a family with a strong political por la Democracia (FAD) also background. Her father was co presented a woman as candidate founder of the Partido Arnulfista for the vice-presidency in the list and her aunt, Ana Matilde Linares led by the legendary trade unionist de Arias was the first wife of the Marta Linares de Martinelli together with her Genaro López. Her name is Maribel three-times elected President husband, the President Ricardo Martinelli and her party’s colleague José Domingo Díaz Gordón, and she is an economist Arnulfo Arias Madrid, leader of the and University Professor. Partido Panameñista. She is well known among As head of Office of the First trade unionists and the media Lady, she has developed a wide due to her activities over the social and cultural agenda, which past years helping workers in is her cover letter. Her speech is negotiations to set the minimum soft and formal and she avoids salary and by her opposition to political confrontations in the the neoliberal policies of the media. However, her comments nation’s governments over the on Twitter about different issues past few decades. are constant. 4 PANAMA: FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS. LISTS, POLLS AND TENDENCIES The political rumor started by a From Magistrate to Vice-President member of the Martinelli family which positioned her as the The first candidate to announce partner of José Domingo Arias for the vice-president of the party’s the elections, was then confirmed. list was Juan Carlos Navarro from This candidacy has heated the PRD. The candidate is Gerardo the debate since some people Solís, former director of the Social consider Marta Linares’ candidacy Investment Fund and Housing as an extension of her husband’s Minister during the government “Ricardo Martinelli, government (who cannot be of Ernesto Pérez Balladares. After all your fears are here reelected). Another controversial holding these two offices, he today. Pay attention aspect is that she would not have worked as an electoral attorney to me, Martinelli, your to resign her position as First Lady and as magistrate for the Electoral worst nightmare is since she is not a public servant, Tribunal. and therefore, she can continue coming true, your time her activities from the presidential Again, his appointment was has finished, I am sure palace while she campaigns as a not a surprise due to his old it’s finished” candidate for the vice-presidency. connection to the party and his new role as independent, harshly There are several arguments criticizing the government of against her appointment regarding Ricardo Martinelli and having legal and ethical aspects. However, made visible strives during his some renowned experts on the last months as magistrate. Constitution such as Edgardo Molino Mola, former magistrate His speech during the official of the Supreme Court of Justice, presentation was energetic have explained that according to and focused on the President: the Article 193 of the Constitution, “Ricardo Martinelli, all your “President’s relatives up to the fears are here today. Pay forth-level of consanguinity and attention to me, Martinelli, your second of affinity cannot be elected worst nightmare is coming true, Vice-President”. Nevertheless, the your time has finished, I am sure Article 123 of the Family Code does it’s finished”.
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