Henriquez: The Executive Was Just Complying With Supreme Court Decision In Appointing Three New Judges
Panama's Foreign Minister Roberto Henriquez said criticisms of the appointment of the new judges to serve on the Fifth Chamber of the Supreme Court are merely political. Henriquez said the Executive Branch complied with a ruling issued by the Supreme Court which revived the Fifth Chamber. He said today the the members of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) are "our critics, but they were the ones who created the Fifth Chamber." The foreign minister said the three people nominated by President Martinelli are "pristine professionals" and it is an insult to insinuate they would be manipulated to act on behalf of the government of Martinelli. (Critica)
Editor's Comment: Traditionally in Panama the judges appointed to the Supreme Court to serve a ten year term are both beholden and faithful to the president who appointed them to the court. It should not be seen as an "insult" - but rather a simple observation of past performance. Of course the three new appointees are going to do Martinelli's bidding. We're not stupid... But yes - the PRD created the entire concept of the Fifth Chamber when Ernesto Perez Balladares was in charge, and now I think it's hilarious to watch the PRD bitching about the monster they themselves created. And of course Martinelli will use the Supreme Court to put a bunch of corrupt PRD politicians in prison. They know what's coming, so that's why they are protesting so hard against it.
