There Are No "Anointed Ones" In The Cambio Democratico Party - Henriquez
The Foreign Minister and Director of the Democratic Change political party, Roberto Henriquez, said president Ricardo Martinelli "has not anointed anyone" because he invited others to join in an internal party competition (primary election) to determine who will be the candidate for the CD (in the next national general elections in May 2014). "I have no intention to participate. I've heard Anibal Galindo and Guillermo Ferrufino (will run)," said Henriquez. (Critica)
Editor's Comment: Hmm. Roberto Henriquez doesn't want to be the next president of Panama? I saw an interview he gave this morning and he looked to me like someone who was keeping his options open. I suspect there will be about four or five candidates to emerge from within the Cambio Democratico political party, there will be a primary election, and from those primary candidates the party's candidate will be selected. Thus far it appears Ricardo Martinelli has in fact "anointed" Guillermo Ferrufino based on their actions together in several public events. Personally, I'm not sure Ferrufino can carry the ball across the finish line, so it might be a risk on Martinelli's part. In any case, these issues will work themselves out over the next 12 to 18 months or so, for all three of the important political parties. There are about nine "pre-candidates" in the PRD at last count, and Mireya Moscoso seems to be coming back from the dead in the Panameñista party, probably the result of a deal with Martinelli to weaken Juan Carlos Varela.
