DOCSLIB.ORG

PANAMA Presidential and Legislative Elections

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Report May 2019 PANAMA Presidential and legislative elections Post-election report Political Analysis Regulatory Information Service EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The presidential and legislative elections of the Republic of Panama took place May 5. Laurentino Cortizo (Revolutionary Democratic Party) is emerging as winner with 33.18% of the vote, versus 31.04% so far for Rómulo Roux (Democratic Change). If the trend continues as the remaining votes are counted, Cortizo is set to become President of Panama for the 2019-2024. DL4AMERICAS.ORG The elections took place amid widespread public disapproval of the government of Juan Carlos Varela, who is seen as having been too preoccupied with infrastructure projects to the detriment of social policies to tackle inequality. Against this backdrop, citizens were drawn to the presidential candidate that was most committed to narrowing the wealth gap across the country. DIRECTORIOLEGISLATIVO.ORG What was the vote for? On Sunday, May 5, presidential and legislative elections were held in Panama to elect the President of the Republic, two Vice Presidents and 71 Deputies for the 2019-2024 term. Electoral calendar The Political Constitution of the Republic of Panama dictates that the President should hold office for five years (Sec. 142). According to the Panamanian Electoral Code, elections shall be held "on the first Sunday of May in the year in which they are to be held" (Sec. 286). This year's vote was held Sunday, May 5. Will there be a second round? In line with the Constitution, the President is elected by majority and direct vote (Sec. 172). Therefore, there is no second round of elections for the presidential elections of the Republic of Panama. How are presidents voted in? By free, equal, universal, secret and direct suffrage. Who were the candidates? There were seven candidates for the presidency: Laurentino Cortizo (Revolutionary Democratic Party), José Blandón (Panamanian Party), Rómulo Roux (Democratic Change), Saúl Méndez Rodríguez (Broad Front for Democracy); and Ana Matilde Gomez, Marco Ameglio and Ricardo Lombana as independent candidates. When does the next administration take office? The winning presidential candidate, along with the elected legislators, are set to take office Monday, July 1, 2019, for a five-year term. DIRECTORIOLEGISLATIVO.ORG DL4AMERICAS.ORG Political context ● Varela's relationship with the National Assembly. Throughout his term in office, President of the Republic Juan Carlos Varela has only had the support of 16 of the Assembly’s 71 deputies. From 2014 to 2018 he was able, however, to mitigate this via a parliamentary alliance with the opposition - specifically, 26 legislators of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Democrático -PRD). However this changed when, in early 2018, the National Assembly rejected Varlea’s picks for new Supreme Court justices. The Comptroller General's Office launched an investigation into PRD legislators as a result of this, criticised by the ruling party as an act of "political persecution". PRD consequently went on to break its parliamentary alliance with the ruling party in mid-2018. In response, Varela sought to align with another opposition party, Democratic Change (Cambio Democrático) which holds 23 seats. However, this was to little avail since Democratic Change, too, was under investigation by the Comptroller's Office, which led to tensions between the two parties. The overall disconnect between the Executive and Assembly led to the latter failing to approve a law to criminalise tax evasion - a priority for the government - and to a hasty last-minute approval of the national budget for 2019. In sum, Varela has had governance problems in the National Assembly throughout his tenure, which were further accentuated in the past year. Due to this, most of the government’s main actions were driven by the Executive branch as opposed to the legislature, such as concerning public works projects and price caps on foods. DIRECTORIOLEGISLATIVO.ORG DL4AMERICAS.ORG Political context ● Panama Papers. On April 3, 2016, the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung published leaked encrypted confidential documents belonging to Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, revealing the concealment of company properties, assets, profits and tax evasion of heads of state and government, world political leaders, politically exposed persons and personalities from finance, business, sports and art. Several of Mossack Fonseca’s clients had hired it to set up “shell corporations” in tax havens which were revealed to have been used for illegal purposes, including fraud, tax evasion and the avoidance of international sanctions. The fallout from this led to a drop in global confidence in Panama’s financial system, which as a result contributed less to its GDP in 2017. In turn, this caused Panama to be blacklisted for money laundering, with both the Financial Action Task Force against Money Laundering (FATF) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) urging the Panamanian government to tighten national laws on tax evasion. Varela spoke out against the FATF and OECD's labelling of Panama as a tax haven. He vowed that Mossack Fonseca would be investigated by the Attorney General of the Republic and promised to strengthen laws on money laundering. That last pledge turned out to be hard for Varela to keep, however, to the point that tax evasion as a criminal offence in Panama was only established by law as recently as January 2019, three years after the scandal. Legislators have defended this by claiming not to have been properly informed, notably by Minister of Economy and Finance, Eyda Varela de Chinchilla, that the new regulations were needed for Panama to remain an international financial center. Following the enactment of the new legislation, both the FATF and the OECD removed Panama from their tax haven blacklists. DIRECTORIOLEGISLATIVO.ORG DL4AMERICAS.ORG Main candidates Seven candidates were in the running for the May 5th elections. Below you will find a profile of the three main ones: Laurentino Rómulo Roux Democratic Cortizo Change Revolutionary Democratic Party 33,18% votes cast* 31,04% Businessman, age 66. Lawyer, age 54. votes cast* Cortizo received a bachelor's degree in Roux graduated from Babson University in business administration from the University of Boston with a Bachelor of Science degree. He Norwich, USA. Also he has a Master's degree in then graduated with a Doctor of Laws degree Business Administration and a PhD in from Miami University. He also earned a International Commerce and Marketing from master's degree in business law from Santa the University of Texas, USA. Maria La Antigua University and a master's degree in business administration from In 1981, Cortizo worked at the Organization of Northwestern University in the United States. American States (OAS). From 1986 to the present, Cortizo has held management In the private sector, Roux worked from 1994 to positions at Grupo Cortizo, Panablock (building 2009 as a lawyer at Morgan & Morgan, where materials company) and Hacienda Hermacor he represented public and private sector clients. (high genetics cattle). At the firm, he served as a representative for project finance, as well as in cross-border He was a member of the Legislative Assembly banking and telecommunications transactions. for the former Solidarity Party in two legislative periods (1994-1999 and 1999-2004), being During Ricardo Martinelli's administration president of the Assembly between 2000 and (Cambio Democrático - 2009-2014) he was 2001. As a deputy, Cortizo was president of the president of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Affairs Committee and president of Panama Canal Authority. He was then Minister the Trade Committee. of Canal Affairs (2009-2012). In 2012, Roux assumed the chairmanship of the Committee In 2004, during the presidency of Martín for the Transformation of the Drinking Water Torrijos (Partido Revolucionario Democrático - and Sanitation Sector. That same year he 2004-2009), he was Minister of Agricultural became Minister of Foreign Affairs. Development, but resigned in 2006 because he disagreed with the clauses of the Free Trade In 2013 he resigned from the ministry to run as Agreement between the United States and a presidential pre-candidate in the Cambio Panama that urged Panama to relax its Democrático party. However, he was phytosanitary and zoosanitary measures vis- surpassed by José Domingo Arias. In 2018, à-vis the United States. Roux won his party's primaries, becoming the Centro Democrático's candidate for the 2019 general election. *Preliminary results published by the Electoral Tribunal. DIRECTORIOLEGISLATIVO.ORG DL4AMERICAS.ORG Main candidates (continuation) Ricardo Lombana Independent 19,15% votes cast* Lawyer, age 45. Lombana obtained a law degree from the University of Panama in 1998. He then completed a Master's Degree in International and Comparative Law at George Washington University (United States) in 2000, and completed two intensive programs in international law at Oxford University (England) and Harvard University (United States) during 2001. In April 2002, the candidate began working in the public sector as the first special delegate for freedom of expression for the Office of the People's Advocate. Between 2004 and 2007 he was first Counsellor and then Consul General at the Embassy of Panama in the United States. After completing his diplomatic duties, he served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper La Prensa between May 2007 and June 2008. Lombana continued in the private sector as an associate of Galindo, Arias & López for five years, until 2013 when he became managing partner of his own firm: Lombana Law & Media. Currently, he continues to practice as a lawyer, arbitrator and media consultant. *Preliminary results published by the Electoral Tribunal. DIRECTORIOLEGISLATIVO.ORG DL4AMERICAS.ORG Government Plan Laurentino Cortizo “Uniendo Fuerzas” (Uniting Forces) Action Plan 33,18% votes cast* ● Economy. Create a "Panama Mission" Plan to promote national growth and bolster the country's international image. This will be a public-private alliance that will attract investment.
Recommended publications
  • Socio Fundador De Mossak Fonseca Declara Sobre Panama Papers

    Socio Fundador De Mossak Fonseca Declara Sobre Panama Papers

    Image not found or type unknown www.juventudrebelde.cu Image not found or type unknown Jurgen Mossak defendió el derecho a la equivocación. Autor: ABC Publicado: 21/09/2017 | 06:30 pm Socio fundador de Mossak Fonseca declara sobre Panama Papers Jurgen Mossak defendió el derecho a la equivocación por parte de la firma Mossack-Fonseca, mientras autoridades panameñas defienden el trato claro a la información sobre el caso Publicado: Viernes 08 abril 2016 | 09:12:05 am. Publicado por: Juventud Rebelde PANAMÁ, abril 8.— El abogado Jürgen Mossack, socio fundador del bufete legal Mossack-Fonseca, rompió su silencio tras el escándalo mundial que generó la obtención de expedientes de sociedades anónimas creadas por su firma, publicó hoy la prensa local, referida por PL. «No vamos a suspender nuestros servicios para ir a sembrar bananas. La gente comete errores. Nosotros también, así como nuestro Departamento de Cumplimiento. Pero eso no es la regla», dijo Mossack al diario norteamericano The Wall Street Journal. Sara Montenegro, directora de Asuntos Legales de la firma, por su parte, también habló para el periódico norteño y eludió referirse a las graves acusaciones internacionales sobre la supuesta conducta de la firma al vender sociedades presuntamente usadas con fines delictivos y más bien prefirió denunciar la sustracción de documentos de la firma como una violación a la privacidad. La procuradora panameña Kenia Porcell, confirmó a periodistas que a mediados de marzo, esa oficina presentó la denuncia sobre la sustracción de documentos de sus bases de datos, cuya investigación aseguró que está avanzada. Prensa Latina publica hoy detalles de su intercambio con uno de los integrantes del Consorcio Internacional de Periodistas de Investigación (ICIJ, por sus siglas en inglés) quien participa en la investigación Papeles de Panamá, y tiene acceso a los documentos que han provocado el escándalo.
  • Evangelicals and Political Power in Latin America JOSÉ LUIS PÉREZ GUADALUPE

    Evangelicals and Political Power in Latin America JOSÉ LUIS PÉREZ GUADALUPE

    Evangelicals and Political Power in Latin America in Latin America Power and Political Evangelicals JOSÉ LUIS PÉREZ GUADALUPE We are a political foundation that is active One of the most noticeable changes in Latin America in 18 forums for civic education and regional offices throughout Germany. during recent decades has been the rise of the Evangeli- Around 100 offices abroad oversee cal churches from a minority to a powerful factor. This projects in more than 120 countries. Our José Luis Pérez Guadalupe is a professor applies not only to their cultural and social role but increa- headquarters are split between Sankt and researcher at the Universidad del Pacífico Augustin near Bonn and Berlin. singly also to their involvement in politics. While this Postgraduate School, an advisor to the Konrad Adenauer and his principles Peruvian Episcopal Conference (Conferencia development has been evident to observers for quite a define our guidelines, our duty and our Episcopal Peruana) and Vice-President of the while, it especially caught the world´s attention in 2018 mission. The foundation adopted the Institute of Social-Christian Studies of Peru when an Evangelical pastor, Fabricio Alvarado, won the name of the first German Federal Chan- (Instituto de Estudios Social Cristianos - IESC). cellor in 1964 after it emerged from the He has also been in public office as the Minis- first round of the presidential elections in Costa Rica and Society for Christian Democratic Educa- ter of Interior (2015-2016) and President of the — even more so — when Jair Bolsonaro became Presi- tion, which was founded in 1955. National Penitentiary Institute of Peru (Institu- dent of Brazil relying heavily on his close ties to the coun- to Nacional Penitenciario del Perú) We are committed to peace, freedom and (2011-2014).
  • El Grito: Four Years of Female Clandestine Journalism Against the Military Dictatorship in Panama (1968–1972)

    El Grito: Four Years of Female Clandestine Journalism Against the Military Dictatorship in Panama (1968–1972)

    EL GRITO: FOUR YEARS OF FEMALE CLANDESTINE JOURNALISM AGAINST THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP IN PANAMA (1968–1972) Carlos Guevara Mann and Brittmarie Janson Pérez* Working Paper # 373 – November 2010 Carlos Guevara Mann, assistant professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Reno, received his PhD in government and international studies at the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of Panamanian Militarism: A Historical Interpretation (Ohio University Center for International Studies, 1996) and a study of the political behavior of the members of Panama’s National Assembly, forthcoming from University of Notre Dame Press. A columnist for La Prensa (Panama) and a United Nations consultant, Guevara Mann served as assistant to the Panamanian minister for foreign relations in 1999–2002. He edited two volumes on international food security for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and has contributed articles on Panamanian politics to journals such as Global Society (UK), Revista de Ciencia Política (Chile), and Revista Panameña de Política. In spring 2010 he was a visiting fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Brittmarie Janson Pérez has a PhD in anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin and is currently associated with the Panamanian Institute for Political and International Studies (Instituto de Estudios Políticos e Internacionales, or IEPI). Her dissertation and continued scholarship have focused on political protests. Janson Pérez is the author of En nuestras propias voces: Panamá Protesta, 1968–1989 (Panamá: Editorial La Prensa, 1993, reprinted by IEPI in 1994, 1998, and 2002) and Golpes y tratados: Piezas para el rompecabezas de nuestra historia (Panamá: IEPI, 1997), as well as many articles in the Panamanian press, including La Prensa, El Panamá América, and other media.
  • Teaching Diplomacy Today 10 Years Ago in Haiti How They See Us

    Teaching Diplomacy Today 10 Years Ago in Haiti How They See Us

    PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020 HOW THEY SEE US 10 YEARS AGO IN HAITI TEACHING DIPLOMACY TODAY FOREIGN SERVICE January-February 2020 Volume 97, No. 1 Cover Story Focus on How They See Us 25 32 Teaching Outside Observers See the United States Diplomacy Today in Ways We Ourselves Cannot This comprehensive look at The views of well-informed foreign observers can offer a welcome counterpoint post–Foreign Service opportunities to the extreme ups and downs of Americans’ own assessment of our nation in academia includes first-person and its role in the world. insights into advantages and perils, By Alexis Ludwig advice on the how-tos, and more. By Jillian Burns and Mark C. Storella 37 Keeping the Relationship Special Don’t underestimate the importance of continued U.S.-U.K. collaboration, a senior British diplomat says in reviewing his trans-Atlantic experience. By Patrick Davies Feature: The 2010 Haiti Earthquake 41 Working with the United States: A View from Panama Not without hiccups, U.S.-Panama 48 ties can become stronger A Night to Remember with frank and open discussion, On Jan. 12, 2010, a sunny a former ambassador to the afternoon turned into a nightmare. United States observes. America’s deputy chief of mission By Jaime Alemán in Haiti shares his record of the first hours of the catastrophe. By David Lindwall 45 Hope for a Renewed Partnership in the Americas 54 A Bolivian diplomat reflects on more than two decades of Tremblement! personal experience dealing The USAID mission director with the United States.
  • Panama 2019 Human Rights Report

    Panama 2019 Human Rights Report

    PANAMA 2019 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Panama is a multiparty constitutional democracy. In May voters chose Laurentino Cortizo Cohen as president in national elections that international and domestic observers considered generally free and fair. The country has no military forces. The Panama National Police (PNP) is principally responsible for internal law enforcement and public order, while additional security forces are responsible for border control and aero naval security. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. Significant human rights issues included: harsh prison conditions; restrictions on free expression, the press, and the internet, including through censorship and criminal libel lawsuits; and forced child labor. The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but the government generally did not implement the law effectively. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. b. Disappearance There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution prohibits such practices, and there were no reports that government officials employed them. Prison and Detention Center Conditions PANAMA 2 Prison conditions remained harsh, primarily due to overcrowding, a shortage of prison guards, and inadequate medical services and sanitary conditions. Physical Conditions: As of September the prison system, with an intended capacity of 14,946 inmates, held 17,360 prisoners. Pretrial detainees shared cells with convicted prisoners due to space constraints.
  • COMISIONES LEGISLATIVAS Historia Y Actualidad

    COMISIONES LEGISLATIVAS Historia Y Actualidad

    COMISIONES LEGISLATIVAS Historia y Actualidad JAIME FORD GONZÁLEZ 2019 © 2019 Jaime Ford González ISBN: 978-9962-13-135-9 Colaboración Damaris Rodríguez-Investigación Marta I. Espino Saavedra y Celia Reyes Sanjur-Corrección y Estilo Enrique Delgado-Asesoría de impresión Rolando Sempruno-Portada Jaime Beitia, Estela Koyner, Reservado todos los derechos Prohibida toda reproducción total o parcial por cualquier medio, sin permiso del autor Primera Edición Digital: 13 de agosto de 2019 La primera edición física 2007 DIRECTIVA EN EL AÑO DEL CENTENARIO Susana Richa de Torrijos Elías A. Castillo G. Jorge E. Alvarado Real Primera Vicepresidenta Presidente Segundo Vicepresidente SECRETARIOS José Ismael Herrera Carlos José Smith S. José Dídimo Escobar Subsecretario General Secretario General Subsecretario General COMISIÓN DEL CENTENARIO DE LA ASAMBLEA NACIONAL H.D. Susana Richa de Torrijos Presidenta H.D. Dorindo Cortez H.D. Alcibíades Vásquez Velásquez H.D.S. Maruja Moreno Lic. Carlos José Smith S. Mgter. Jaime Ford González Lic. Boris Moreno DEDICATORIA Para quienes construyen un nuevo país al servicio de la democracia participativa y del bien común. La riqueza, al igual que la ley, no sirve si no está al servicio de todos los hombres INDICE Pag. Prólogo............................................................................................................ 11 Introducción..................................................................................................... 13 1. Origen y evolución del Parlamento................................................................
  • 2020 01 13 V PLENO.Pdf

    2020 01 13 V PLENO.Pdf

    Asamblea Nacional Acta EN LA SEGUNDA LEGISLATURA DEL PRIMER PERIODO DE SESIONES ORDINARIAS DEL PERIODO CONSTITUCIONAL 2019 - 2024 CORRESPONDIENTE A LOS DÍAS 13, 14 y 15 DE ENERO DE 2020 SESIÓN PERMANENTE Primer llamado: 4:50 p.m HONORABLES DIPUTADOS PRESENTES: Yanibel Y. Ábrego Smith, Roberto Ábrego Torres, Crispiano Adames Navarro, Fátima Agrazal, Ariel Antonio Alba Peñalba, Francisco José Alemán Mendoza, Rony Ronald Araúz González, Fernando Ariel Arce Mendizábal, Leopoldo Angelino Archibold Hooker, Itzi Nailyn Atencio González, Leandro Ávila, Roberto Antonio Ayala, Petita Ayarza Pérez, Leopoldo Luis Benedetti Milligan, Eugenio Bernal Ortiz, Dalia Mirna Bernal Yáñez, Héctor Hugo Brands Córdoba, Eric Ariel Broce Espino, Edison Augusto Broce Urriola, Corina Eduarda Cano Córdoba, Luis Ernesto Carles Rudy, Marcos E. Castillero Barahona, Alejandro Magno Castillero Pinilla, Víctor Manuel Castillo Pérez, Alain Albenis Cedeño Herrera, Everardo Concepción Santamaría, Mayín Correa Delgado, Luis Rafael Cruz Vargas, Olivares De Frías Frías, Hernán Delgado Quintero, Arnulfo Díaz De León, Juan Alberto Esquivel Santamaría, Miguel Ángel Fanovich Tijerino, Raúl Antonio Fernández De Marco, Sergio Rafael Gálvez Evers, Alina Inés González Córdoba, Bernardino González González, Gonzalo Gaspar González Mendizábal, Néstor Antonio Guardia Jaén, Kayra Harding Tejada, Melchor Herrera Espinosa, José María Herrera Ocaña, Nelson Jackson Palma, Mariano López Amador, Hugo Nodier Méndez Lizondro, Julio Humberto Mendoza González, Raúl Gilberto Pineda Vergara, Benicio Enacio Robinson Grajales, Yesenia Esther Rodríguez Flores, Zulay Leyset Rodríguez Lu, Tito Rodríguez Mena, Ana Giselle Rosas Mata, Manolo Enrique Ruiz Castillo, Jairo Ariel Salazar Ramírez, Gabriel Eduardo Silva Vignoli, Javier Francisco Sucre Mejía, Ricardo Javier Torres Díaz, Pedro Antonio Torres Mero, Marylín E. Vallarino B., Jaime Edgardo Vargas Centella, Cenobia Haydee Vargas Grajales, Juan Diego Vásquez Gutiérrez, Edwin Alberto Zúñiga Mencomo, Ariel A.
  • Panama's Dollarized Economy Mainly Depends on a Well-Developed Services Sector That Accounts for 80 Percent of GDP

    Panama's Dollarized Economy Mainly Depends on a Well-Developed Services Sector That Accounts for 80 Percent of GDP

    LATIN AMERICAN SOCIO-RELIGIOUS STUDIES PROGRAM - PROGRAMA LATINOAMERICANO DE ESTUDIOS SOCIORRELIGIOSOS (PROLADES) ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: RELIGION IN PANAMA SECOND EDITION By Clifton L. Holland, Director of PROLADES Last revised on 3 November 2020 PROLADES Apartado 86-5000, Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica Telephone (506) 8820-7023; E-Mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.prolades.com/ ©2020 Clifton L. Holland, PROLADES 2 CONTENTS Country Summary 5 Status of Religious Affiliation 6 Overview of Panama’s Social and Political Development 7 The Roman Catholic Church 12 The Protestant Movement 17 Other Religions 67 Non-Religious Population 79 Sources 81 3 4 Religion in Panama Country Summary Although the Republic of Panama, which is about the size of South Carolina, is now considered part of the Central American region, until 1903 the territory was a province of Colombia. The Republic of Panama forms the narrowest part of the isthmus and is located between Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the east. The Caribbean Sea borders the northern coast of Panama, and the Pacific Ocean borders the southern coast. Panama City is the nation’s capital and its largest city with an urban population of 880,691 in 2010, with over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area. The city is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal , and is the political and administrative center of the country, as well as a hub for banking and commerce. The country has an area of 30,193 square miles (75,417 sq km) and a population of 3,661,868 (2013 census) distributed among 10 provinces (see map below).
  • Panama 2018 Human Rights Report

    Panama 2018 Human Rights Report

    PANAMA 2018 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Panama is a multiparty constitutional democracy. In 2014 voters chose Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez as president in national elections that international and domestic observers considered generally free and fair. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. Human rights issues included undue restrictions on free expression, the press, and the internet, including censorship, site blocking, and criminal libel; and widespread corruption. The Varela administration and the Public Ministry continued investigations into allegations of corruption against public officials. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. b. Disappearance There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution prohibits such practices, and there were no reports that government officials employed them. In 2017 civilian correctional officers used batons and tear gas to control inmates who refused to be transported. Penitentiary System authorities investigated the incident and dismissed the case, citing evidence that showed standard procedures were enforced due to serious misconduct by the inmates. In May the PANAMA 2 Ombudsman’s Office decried the possible use of excessive force and the conclusion of the penitentiary authorities. Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison conditions remained harsh, due primarily to overcrowding, a shortage of prison guards, and inadequate medical services and sanitary conditions. Physical Conditions: As of August the prison system, with an intended capacity of 14,842 inmates, held 16,069 prisoners.
  • University of Florida Thesis Or Dissertation Formatting Template

    University of Florida Thesis Or Dissertation Formatting Template

    INDIGENOUS MOBILIZATION, INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND RESISTANCE: THE NGOBE MOVEMENT FOR POLITICAL AUTONOMY IN WESTERN PANAMA By OSVALDO JORDAN-RAMOS A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2010 1 © 2010 Osvaldo Jordan Ramos 2 A mi madre Cristina por todos sus sacrificios y su dedicacion para que yo pudiera terminar este doctorado A todos los abuelos y abuelas del pueblo de La Chorrera, Que me perdonen por todo el tiempo que no pude pasar con ustedes. Quiero que sepan que siempre los tuve muy presentes en mi corazón, Y que fueron sus enseñanzas las que me llevaron a viajar a tierras tan lejanas, Teniendo la dignidad y el coraje para luchar por los más necesitados. Y por eso siempre seguiré cantando con ustedes, Aje Vicente, toca la caja y llama a la gente, Aje Vicente, toca la caja y llama a la gente, Aje Vicente, toca la caja y llama la gente. Toca el tambor, llama a la gente, Toca la caja, llama a la gente, Toca el acordeón, llama a la gente... 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to recognize the great dedication and guidance of my advisor, Philip Williams, since the first moment that I communicated to him my decision to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Florida. Without his encouragement, I would have never been able to complete this dissertation. I also want to recognize the four members of my dissertation committee: Ido Oren, Margareth Kohn, Katrina Schwartz, and Anthony Oliver-Smith.
  • Mise En Page 1

    Mise En Page 1

    Print ISSN: 1994-0963 Electronic ISSN: 1994-098X INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION CHRONICLE OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2009 CHRONICLE OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS VOLUME 43 Published annually in English and French since 1967, the Chronicle of Parliamentary Elections reports on all national legislative elections held throughout the world during a given year. It includes information on the electoral system, the back- ground and outcome of each election as well as statistics on the results, distri- bution of votes and distribution of seats according to political group, sex and age. The information contained in the Chronicle can also be found in the IPU's data- base on national parliaments, PARLINE. PARLINE is accessible on the IPU web site (http://www.ipu.org/parline) and is continually updated. Inter-Parliamentary Union VOLUME 43 5, chemin du Pommier Case postale 330 CH-1218 Le Grand-Saconnex Geneva – Switzerland Tel.: +41 22 919 41 50 Fax: +41 22 919 41 60 2009 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.ipu.org 2009 Chronicle of Parliamentary Elections VOLUME 43 1 January - 31 December 2009 © Inter-Parliamentary Union 2010 Print ISSN: 1994-0963 Electronic ISSN: 1994-098X Photo credits Front cover: Photo AFP/Pascal Pavani Back cover: Photo AFP/Tugela Ridley Inter-Parliamentary Union Office of the Permanent Observer of 5, chemin du Pommier the IPU to the United Nations Case postale 330 220 East 42nd Street CH-1218 Le Grand-Saconnex Suite 3002 Geneva — Switzerland New York, N.Y. 10017 USA Tel.: + 41 22 919 41 50 Tel.: +1 212 557 58 80 Fax:
  • Panama's Competitive Advantage, 2016

    Panama's Competitive Advantage, 2016

    Panama´s Competitive Advantage, 2016 "The Panama Papers are a global attack against the (our) financial system". La Estrella’s (Panamanian Newspaper) headline April 4th 2016 On August 5th, 2016, Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz announced his resignation from the Committee of Independent Experts that had been set in place by President Juan Carlos Varela to formulate recommendations to achieve higher transparency standards for Panama. Mark Pieth, a Swiss professor of law and anti-corruption expert, resigned along with Stiglitz. Both argued that the government refused to guarantee that the committee´s report would be made public1. The remaining five members faced important challenges. Besides having to explain to the media the reasons behind the resignation of these two characters, they needed to define the committee´s stance. On the one hand, they could adopt a position similar to that of the Vice-minister of Foreign Relations, who in April had rejected a letter of the Secretary General of the OECD2. The Vice-Minister had argued that the OECD´s claim related to a “culture of secrecy that prevailed in the country” was based on false allegations, and that it could be easily be proven wrong. Alternatively, the committee could adopt a position closer to that of the Minister of Economy and Finance, who had expressed in April that Panama, would start in 2018 the application of the automatic fiscal information exchange required by the OECD3. 1 The report was eventually made public on November 18th, 2016, and it is unclear why some of the original members of the committee believed this would not happen.