Martinelli Government Will Hold Popular Plebiscites Every Year
The Electoral Tribunal (TE) could have much more work than usual during the five years of any presidential administration, given that President Ricardo Martinelli has taken seriously the idea of holding a popular annual consultation (vote) on issues of national interest. The basis for these consultations will be established today. The Minister of the Presidency, Demetrio Papadimitriu, heads a government commission that will meet with the judges of the Electoral Tribunal, Eduardo Valdés, Gerardo Solis and Erasmo Pinilla. The executive committee also consists of the Minister of Interior and Justice, Jose Raul Mulino and vice ministers María Fábrega and Alejandro Garuz of the Presidency and Security, respectively. The review of the legal framework under which these kinds of public consultations would take place will be one of the first issues that must be explained by the Electoral Tribunal. Once a "strong base" is established, it is expected the judges and members of the commission will make the results of this meeting public through an official press release. The issues on which public consultations will be held are not of "the moment" but rather of "the future", said said minister Papadimitriu. An issue such as tax reform, according to Papadimitriu, would not be part of this consultative process, although the issue of changes to the education system curriculum could fall within the announced dialog.
INITIATIVE: Martinelli was clear, the initiative to convene annual plebiscites would be similar to the model employed in Europe. Switzerland is the only country on the European continent where the Constitution provides for conducting referendums as a way to adopt rules and decisions that apply to the whole country. Unlike a referendum, whose character or legal rigor can only accept or reject a law or a decision of either local or national character, a plebiscite can set standards, receive proposals, and allow for the making of decisions or the writing of regulations. In both formulas, the popular vote is the deciding factor.
Sovereign provinces: Another issue to be addressed would be the decentralization at the provincial level, giving governors the power to decide on the execution of public works and projects. For this, the figure (the Governors of the Provinces) who right now is designated by the President of the Republic would become subject to a popular election, a proposal that would also have to be included in the process of reforming the electoral code. Last year, the National Assembly suspended the effective date of Law 37 which decentralized public administration of municipalities, giving them autonomy in their operation and management of funds allocated to public education health.
POPULAR CONSULTATION: From 1978 to date, Panama has held four public consultations on vital issues in national affairs. The ratification of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties in 1977 passed public scrutiny at the height of the years of the military dictatorship in Panama, while the decision to expand the Panama Canal in 2006 was the last time an issue was submitted to public scrutiny. Unlike elections, this type of consultative approach, either by referendum or plebiscite, requires an extra mobilization of staff before, during and after election day. In the proposal being put forward by Martinelli, they would hold at least four public plebiscites between 2010 and 2013. To do this, the explanations of the judges of the Electoral Tribunal will be highly relevant. (Source: La Estrella)
Editor's Comment: Very intelligent. I see this proposal as an expansion of democracy in Panama. The government of Ricardo Martinelli could place issues of national interest on a ballot and then once they pass the vote, he would have the popular backing of the people to do whatever it is that needs to be done. For example - consider the possibility of a referendum on balancing the budget. If the people speak and demand that the government run a balanced budget, then the government would have to both cut spending and increase taxes until they were running a surplus and paying off debt. The question will quickly become - what will be the process for determining what questions will be a part of the plebiscite. For example if they ask "We're going to eliminate the PRD - should we shoot them or drown them?" (Pick only one) You get the point. The person forming the question already pretty much knows what the answer is going to be. And (conversely) they won't ask the questions if they don't want to hear the answers. Anyway, it's still a smart play and it will give me a lot to talk about for the next four years, so I like it.
