"The Court's Statement Was Planned" - Varela
The Vice President of Panama, who is also the President of the opposition Panameñista political party, Juan Carlos Varela, said yesterday president Ricardo Martinelli "mocks the country" because of the announcement made by the President of the Supreme Court, Alejandro Moncada Luna, who said Martinelli could legally appoint the three new Supreme Court justices who will occupy the controversial "Fifth Chamber," without having to wait for the National Assembly to pass the law they are currently debating on the subject. Varela said Moncada Luna's statement have been "planned since last Friday." Varela referred to a press release from the Executive that announced they would proceed with the appointment of the three new judges for the Fifth Chamber, to obey the instructions of the President of the Supreme Court, in order to ensure compliance with the court's decision of 25 January 2011 which declared Law 49 of 1999 unconstitutional, which repealed the Fifth Chamber.
The press release from the Executive came after mobs of people led by members of the ruling Democratic Change (CD) political party staged confrontations with people from other groups and political parties in the gallery of the National Assembly, all who were there to observe the proceedings and debates about the Fifth Chamber. According to Varela, before Martinelli left for Davos, Switzerland, on January 24th to attend the World Economic Forum summit, he met with the National Assembly caucus of his Democratic Change political party, and he warned them that he wanted the law about the Fifth Chamber passed before he returned last weekend. Otherwise, he would not support them with more funds, and he would appoint the judges of the Fifth Chamber.
La Prensa sought a reaction from the Executive on Varela's version of events, but there was no answer. National Assembly Deputy and the former leader of the CD caucus Fernando Carrillo denied Varela's version, saying they were not threatened by Martinelli. He also denied there is disobedience in the caucus.
But CD Deputies Luis Corvillón and Ronny Araúz, and the Panameñista Deputy Miguel Fanovich, who support the Fifth Chamber, were absent from the debate. Those who reject the Fifth Chamber argue it will allow Martinelli to appoint eight of the twelve judges in the Supreme Court, a first for the country. The opposition interpreted this as an action seeking reelection. Assertions that the president has repeatedly rejected. (Prensa)
Editor's Comment: Today there will be a meeting of the Executive Cabinet Council. I expect they will select and appoint the three new Supreme Court justices for the Fifth Chamber at the meeting. The opposition lawmakers are most afraid because with eight judges in his back pocket Martinelli will have a two-thirds majority, number required to convict a Deputy in the National Assembly of corruption, graft, embezzlement, or some other crime or wrongdoing. And if the CD wins in 2014? Make that 12 out of 12. Guys like Blandon and every corrupt lawmaker in Panama are shitting in their pants, and ready to burn down the house to keep this from happening. But it's going to happen anyway. And, they won't like it. But the girl in the pink lingerie likes it - and she knows its the last day of the month, so you should forward this article to all of your friends, in a blatant attempt to boost this month's traffic stats. Yeah, sure politics, whatever ... "hey, hooters!" ... I think she would make a great Supreme Court Judge. Like, I don't know my audience (grin).
