Plebiscite Could Cost $8 Million Dollars

Public consultations could represent a cost to the state of $8 million dollars, confirmed yesterday Raul Mulino, the Minister of Government and Justice. His remarks came after a meeting between the Minister of the Presidency Jimmy Papadimitriu, the Minister of Government and Justice Jose Raul Mulino, Rómulo Roux of Canal Affairs, the Vice Minister of the Presidency María Fábrega, and the justices of the Electoral Tribunal to learn what is needed in order to hold this kind of public consultation. Although Mulino said he still does not have a specific plan, they are evaluating the costs associated with the last referendum on the Panama Canal, which was about $8 million dollars. It was learned that after the meeting, they intended to present a report to president Ricardo Martinelli to explain the results of the meeting with the judges of the Electoral Tribunal, and to create a proposal for a bill that will be presented to the National Assembly to begin shaping the popular consultations. The meeting came after an announcement made by Martinelli on Sunday, 7 March, regarding the participation of Panamanians in a plebiscite or referendum in forums, surveys and momentous issues. Martinelli launched the proposal as a means of obtaining the views of the people who will decide what action should be taken to seek the best solutions to major issues in the country. Through public consultations, regional or national issues could be addressed, and then it would fall to the Executive branch to call for the election and to the Electoral Tribunal to regulate and oversee the voting, said the Ministry of the Presidency. According Papadimitriu, they still have not defined what issues will be included as part of the plebiscite to be discussed between the people and the executive, nor has an exact date been fixed to hold the first vote, but he said the opinion of the people is the most important thing. (Source: El Siglo)