Today on the Channel 13 Telemetro morning newscast, Panama's Minister of Trade and Industry, Roberto Henriquez, said the only person who would immediately benefit from a proposal to reduce the waiting period for a former president to seek reelection from 10 years (currently) to five years would be Martin Torrijos. Henriquez said any proposal to change the Constitution of Panama to allow for the immediate reelection of the sitting president is not on the agenda of the present government of Ricardo Martinelli. He said the only ones talking about his possibility are PRD politicians from the opposition. (Source: Telemetro Reporta)

Editor's Comment: The message coming from the administration of Ricardo Martinelli became clear on this issue, as of yesterday morning. Martinelli himself said he has no interest whatsoever of seeking immediate reelection in the 2014 elections. However in these statements made by Roberto Henriquez, this is the first time I've seen the "trial balloon" floated of decreasing the waiting period required from 10 to 5 years. If that change were implemented then Martin Torrijos would be able to run for office in 2014, instead of having to wait until 2019. Right now when a President leaves office he or she has to sit out for two full cycles before they are eligible. In 2009 Ernesto Perez Balladares was eligible because he left office in 1999, but he lost a PRD primary election to Balbina Herrera. With no change to the constitution both Ernesto Perez Balladares and Mireya Moscoso could run in 2014, because Mireya left office in 2004. If the change is adopted then you could add Martin Torrijos to the mix for 2014, but Ricardo Martinelli would not be eligible until 2019.

And Here's The Grand Strategy: Ricardo Martinelli does a good job, runs the country well, focuses on making sure he keeps the people happy, and glides into the end of his administration with relatively high approval ratings (60% or higher). He hands the reins to Juan Carlos Varela (or some other politician he could back as his anointed candidate) who takes over and runs things for the next five years. And then in 2019 after taking five years off Martinelli could come back and do it again. As long as the non-PRD coalition remains intact, then the PRD will never have the votes to run the country. Repeat forever. The kicker to this plan is "keeping the coalition together." What tends to happen ever five years is - the non-PRD parties get together and form a coalition and they win. (Endara). The next time around it all falls apart and they lose (Perez Balladares.) Then after being reminded of what the PRD is like they come together again (Moscoso). Once in power they are corrupted, fall on their asses, and the PRD comes back (Torrijos.) Once again reminded of the PRD, they get it together again (Martinelli) and here we are today. Anyway, the message is "we don't want reelection" but their plan apparently calls for holding on to power for a very long time.    

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.   

"I'm not cut out for this crap," said Ricardo Martinelli, who said he would not support any effort to change the constitution to allow for his immediate reelection, and that once he's done changing the country he said he would "go enjoy my life." While dismissing the possibility of his immediate reelection, Martinelli said he supports the idea of making changes to the Constitution, but to improve issues such as the way judges to the Supreme Court are selected and the possibility of eliminating reelection for Deputies to the National Assembly. Martinelli's statements were made during an interview on the Channel 13 Telemetro morning news program, during which he stepped out to defend the quality of the school book bags that are being handed out to students this year, the tax reforms currently being debated in the Finance Committee of the National Assembly, and rumors of the possibility of an impending effort to change the Constitution so that he could seek reelection.

Martinelli said he accepts constructive criticism - "if we have to back down, then so be it" - he said, but not without saying that those who are complaining most about the tax reform plan are the rich who do not want the country to change. When asked about the possibility of reducing the ITBMS from 7% to 6%, Martinelli said they would then have to increase taxes on banks and airlines. "We ended (the year) with a deficit of 1% - after paying off a pile of debt we inherited (from the previous administration of Martin Torrijos) such as the Coastal Strip, and now it falls to me to determine if it is necessary to raise taxes because the money is being hidden somewhere else." "I will continue to decline in the polls, but in four years I will have an acceptance rate of 90%," he said.

As for his call for unity, Martinelli said referendums will used to decide national issues.

In speaking about recent criticisms made against him by the Arab League over remarks he made while in Israel, and calls from the National Christian Holy Land Coalition to have him declared "persona non grata" Martinelli said his comments were taken out of context, since he made his statements originally in English and they do not mean the same thing in Spanish. Martinelli downplayed the situation, because it does not affect the international relations of Panama in any way. "Here they are looking for the cat's fifth leg," he said.

Backpacks & Scholarships - "To say the backpacks are not of good quality is a dirty trick," said Martinelli, who added it is easier to do nothing, or simply steal $10 dollars for every backpack, as they did during the last administration. The universal scholarship consists of a $20 monthly payment - for nine months - for every student in public school.   

Former Vice President Guillermo Ford said it would be a "surprise" to the country, to consider the possibility of an attempt to modify the Constitution to allow for the reelection of the president or the extension of the term in office. He said it would be "premature" to talk about the possibility of a reelection or extension of the presidential period in office, considering that the Martinelli administration has only been in office a few months. "To me, as a politician and citizen, I don't like living in the surprises provided by the politicians, therefore the issue should be fully discussed with the whole of society," he said. He said that if a referendum were adopted it should guarantee "democratic stability." (Source: Panama America)

Editor's Comment: There are strong rumors running around saying that President Ricardo Martinelli is planning to push for a change to the Constitution of Panama that would allow for this immediate reelection. The last guy to try this was Ernesto Perez Balladares, who lost a referendum vote on the issue. Not surprising considering he was elected by only about 35% of the population. Perez Balladares was always much more popular in his own head than he ever was among the general population of the country. Martinelli, on the other hand, was elected by about 65% of the vote, the most ever for any Panamanian president in the post-dictatorship era. Martinelli had approval ratings of up to 80% just a couple of months ago, and recently those numbers have dropped back down to the high 60% to low 70% range. In order to change the Constitution the National Assembly must first approve the request in two consecutive years, and then the question would be put to a national vote. Therefore, if the National Assembly approved the issue tomorrow, the earliest we might see a national referendum would be towards the end of 2010 or early 2011 (or later). In order to pass, it would be a simple "Yes" or "No" vote, and it would need a simply majority of 50% (plus one vote.) If Martinelli intends to try this, it would be better to do it early in his administration rather than later.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - And now, it's hitting the fan somewhat within the Panameñista political party in Panama. Shortly after the installation of Panama's new Attorney General, Giuseppe Bonissi, the Supreme Court reactivated an old case that was still pending against former president of Panama, Mireya Moscoso. Her administration ran the country from 1999 to 2004, and arguably hers was one of the most corrupt of the post-dictatorship era. And, that's saying something when compared to her contemporaries, Ernesto Perez Balladares and Martin Torrijos. When Mireya Moscoso was elected the party was known as the "Arnulfistas" - named after her late husband Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid. He was elected as the President of Panama three times in the 40's, 50's, and 60's, but every time he was thrown out of office by a military coup - real "mission impossible" stuff. Anyway, by the end of the Moscoso administration in 2004 the party was in tatters. They actually changed the name of the party back to the Panameñista party, in an effort to bury the ghosts of Moscoso's corrupt administration. Now that Mireya Moscoso has lost her immunity from prosecution that she had as a representative to the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), and now that Ricardo Martinelli has taken control of the Supreme Court, for the first time Mireya Moscoso is confronted with the serious possibility of having to face justice for all the crap they pulled while she was in office. The headlines today are filled with a supposed "rebellion" within the Panameñista party, which is supposedly divided into two camps - one loyal to Mireya Moscoso and the other loyal to Party President and Panamanian Vice President Juan Carlos Varela. Any noise Panameñista's might be making about not being happy with the administration of Ricardo Martinelli should be taken in context. If it wasn't for the alliance they struck with him, they would be on the outside looking in. If Mireya Moscoso has to respond for some of the more corrupt acts committed by her administration, then I can only applaud. Anyway, you might be seeing more from some elements of the Panameñista party, but in fact it's just more chickens finally coming home to roost. And, Ricardo Martinelli is sticking to his campaign promise of making corrupt former officials pay - no matter what party they came from. And remember, before Ricardo Martinelli and his Cambio Democratico party, political power in Panama had shifted back and forth between the PRD and the Panameñistas since about 1931. He is a real game-changer, and the old timers on both sides don't like the new paradigm very much. The little guys, however, are really diggin' it - Martinelli still has a 70%+ approval rating. So a few Panameñistas are complaining, so what?

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - This morning many of the news sources carried headlines declaring a sharp drop in Ricardo Martinelli's popularity in Panama. I watched and listened to those reports and then bought a couple of newspapers to check things out for myself. It turns out that the "big news" is about 70% of Panamanians rate Ricardo Martinelli as either "Excellent" or "Good". He has lost some of the initial euphoria from when he was elected, but considering that a full 35% of the country are card-carrying members of the PRD political party, it's still astounding that 70% of Panamanians think he's doing either a good or an excellent job in office. What's more, Martinelli got about 60% of the vote in the election, so there are now even more people behind him than on election day. What's funny to me is watching the media trying to turn that into bad news.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Sectors of Panamanian society are appealing to President Ricardo Martinelli, to stop the "excessive hunger for power" that is plunging the country into what could be the "worst institutional-political crisis in recent decades." The concern of the Catholic Church was published in the weekly newspaper "Catholic Panorama", which states that given the situation that has arisen over the case of the Attorney General's Office, "the interests and the social peace of the nation take priority over the individual." The Church believes that "to submit the country to the shock, the disappointment, and the institutional dispute, is a dangerous act, the consequences of which will eventually result in a heavy price." Politician Miguel Antonio Bernal warns that we face an executive that does not stop its excessive accumulation of power, which can be "dangerous" for the country. Bernal's view is shared by PRD deputy Leandro Avila who argues that many of the Executive's actions could lead us to a "great crisis". Since July the administration of Ricardo Martinelli has planned its actions to achieve a greater concentration of power than what is provided by the Constitution (critics allege.) The concern of the Church is added to that of other groups and organizations from the civil society. Some of them openly supported Martinelli as a candidate in the last election, but now they are orchestrating the the revival of the National Civil Crusade that opposed the military dictatorship in the 1980's. Constitutionally, the executive has the power to develop and implement the General State Budget. The Executive Branch can decide how much money is assigned to each of the other branches of government and the manner in which that money is spent, which in effect gives it total control, said Bernal. Milton Henriquez, chairman of the Popular Party, believes the National Assembly should also change it's "complacent" conduct. Martinelli's actions to dominate all structures of the state were clear from the beginning. His government holds a majority in the National Assembly and they ratified his appointment of Gioconda Torres de Bianchini as the new Comptroller General of the Republic, a woman who previously worked as the chief auditor for Martinelli's companies. And this occurred despite his campaign promises that he would select an independent for this post. The National Assembly also ratified two of Martinelli's appointments to the Supreme Court, José Almengor and Alejandro Moncada, both of whom are close to the President. Add the separation of Ana Matilde Gomez from her position as the Attorney General of the Republic and the surprise resignation of Boris Barrios from his politically important position as th Electoral Prosecutor, and the fear that the magistrates of the Electoral Tribunal may be forced from their positions through legal actions pending against them. The Government also aims to control the media. After criticizing the programming and the newscasts on the major television stations, National Assembly Deputy from Ricardo Martinelli's Cambio Democratico political party Dalia Bernal, first proposed the reactivation of the Censorship Board and later the "self-regulation" of the newspapers and radio. (Source: Panama America)

Editor's Comment: Yup, there's no doubt about it. Ricardo Martinelli has taken control of just about every important element of political power in Panama. Any observer can see what's happening and it's making some people very, very nervous. Now ask yourself - how and why has Martinelli been able to gather up so much political power? I would submit that the power now being wielded by Martinelli is a direct reflection of the clear mandate the people of Panama handed to him in the May 2009 election. Once must always remain vigilant upon detecting his particular set of circumstances, however the proof will be to see exactly how his accumulation of state power is used. If Martinelli continues his campaign to flush out and prosecute corrupt PRD politicians - and of course it will be the prosecutors of the Public Ministry and the judges of the Judiciary who actually do most of the heavy lifting in that respect - then I'm all for it. Gather the evidence, hold a fair and transparent trial, respect the constitutional rights of all involved, and obtain true and valid convictions against those who have been RAPING THIS COUNTRY FOR DECADES! There are some people who are afraid of the power being gathered by Ricardo Martinelli for a reason - mostly because they know what they have done and they are afraid that they will now, finally, be held accountable for their criminal actions, in a country where they have traditionally been able to get away with murder, literally. If that's the meaning of "Democratic Change" then it's been a long time coming. Maybe, just maybe, we might be witnessing a healthy evolution of the democratic process in action. And again, the proof is in the pudding. I've been disappointed by Panamanian politicians before. I had high hopes for Martin Torrijos and look how that turned out. Let's hope Ricardo Martinelli is actually, really, truly different from the people who have preceded him in office.   

As soon as Panama's Attorney General Ana Matilde Gomez is formally and officially notified of her suspension, the Secretary General of the Public Ministry, Rigoberto González and several other staff members in "positions of trust" will resign from their positions within the institution. With this announcement González is complying with what he has been saying for months - that if Gomez eventually leaves from her post then he would resign. However, while local media reported on Thursday that four prosecutors have also said they would resign, the rest will await for the new Attorney General Giuseppe Bonissi to decide. Meanwhile the Superior Prosecutor neither confirmed or denied that he would resign, although he has another offer within the Municipality of Panama. Other officials argued that the "judicial career" will be diminished, although it is protected by the Constitution. (Source: Panama America)

Editor's Comment: In Panama the Attorney General is the Chief of the Public Ministry. All of the prosecutors in Panama work for the AG. There are literally dozens of prosecutors at all levels, and some are more trusted than others. All of the people who move in these circles know "who's who" so to speak, and they know which of the prosecutors are the loyal allies of Ana Matilde Gomez. While (on paper) their jobs and careers are protected, they also understand this is a situation that is politically charged. For example, Rigoberto González is the Secretary General of the Public Ministry and he also serves as the personal defense attorney for Ana Matilde Gomez. It will be interesting to see which of the high-profile prosecutors turn in their papers, and which stick around to see if Giuseppe Bonissi wants them to stick around. In this world, if the boss doesn't want you, it really doesn't make any sense to force the issue or you'll find yourself prosecuting coconut thieves in the San Blas islands somewhere or sniffing around the Darien looking for the FARC.   

The PRD continues to rain criticism on Ricardo Martinelli. Yesterday, during the meeting of the "Torrijos People Power" movement in Santiago de Veraguas, the Secretary General of the Partido Revolucionario Democrático (PRD), Mitchel Doens, railed against the President and said "Benito Mussolini is like a tit-sucking baby compared to the pigeon dictator" who wants to take control of all state agencies, particularly the Judiciary, the Electoral Tribunal, the Comptroller's Office, and the office of the Attorney General. In a rambling 35 minute speech, Doens accused Martinelli of advocating political traitor-ship among the 326 area representatives, offering them between $100,000 to $200,000 dollars to register in the Cambio Democratico political party,as part of this malevolent action to destroy the PRD. Doens said only 15 changed parties, but even then six have returned to the PRD and have been welcomed with open arms. He warned that a process will be opened against those who continue to support the CD to kick them out of the party, as established by the statutes of the collective. Doens also repudiated the suspension of the Decentralization Act by the executive, who with one stroke and with the help of the Deputies of the National Assembly cut off aid to members of the People representing the districts in the country.

Editor's Comment: It's nothing personal, but every time Mitchel Doens opens his mouth, he promptly sticks his foot in there. Under Martin Torrijos the PRD controlled the Executive Branch as well as the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, the office of the Attorney General, the Electoral Tribunal, and the Comptroller General of the Republic. The simple fact of the matter is that the PRD did such a bad job and they were so completely corrupt in office that "the people" voted overwhelmingly to toss them out on their collective asses, a position from which they whine today. Now, will Martinelli and his gang prove to be any better or different? Only time will tell. Doens is right about the dismantling of the PRD, however. It's clear to me that a central plank in Martinelli's grand strategy is to put as many high ranking PRD political figures in prison as humanly possible during his five year term.   

Republican Bruce Blakeman, a private-sector lawyer with political experience, visited Rochester on Thursday to make a pitch for his bid for U.S. Senate and derided efforts to reform health care in Washington. “The best way to solve the health care problem is to give people jobs with good wages and decent benefits and they won’t have to worry about health care,” he said. “I don’t think we should dismantle the greatest health care provider system in the history of mankind.” Blakeman, 54, is hoping to ride voters’ wave of disgust with the Democratic-controlled Congress to victory against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. “Down in Washington, the people’s voices haven’t been heard,” he said. “And because of that they’re angry, they’re frustrated, they’re worried.” Gillibrand spokeswoman Bethany Lesser noted that while President Barack Obama’s health care bill “is not perfect,” it is still good for New York. “It would lower health care costs for businesses and families who have health insurance, and it would provide quality care for more than 2.7 million New Yorkers who don’t have it.” Lesser said. “While Senator Gillibrand has helped lead the charge to improve the bill for New York, Bruce Blakeman and his fellow Republican cronies from the Bush-Cheney administration are just doing the bidding of insurance companies.”   Click Here To Read The Full Article (216 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Warning - this has nothing to do with Panama. I've decided to support the campaign of Republican Bruce Blakeman for US Senate in New York. I'm from New York, you see, and I've been unhappy with our state's Senators for quite some time. I think Bruce Blakeman is positioned to pull off an upset victory over the Democratic incumbent, much like Scott Brown did in Massachusetts. From his website: "These are turbulent times for the families of New York State and our nation. I am running for senate because I share the anger, frustration and worry of the hard-working families of New York. Unemployment hovers around 10% and in some regions of our state it is much higher. Billions have been spent on so-called stimulus programs, but nobody I’ve talked to has been stimulated . Where did the money go? Unfortunately, the current atmosphere in Washington punishes businesses, successful people and middle-class taxpayers and threatens the very foundation of our economic system. Government should reward hard work, sacrifice, risk and ingenuity. These are the principals that made us the most prosperous nation in the world. We have seen the GDP and GNP increase when businesses invest in equipment, technology and people versus investing in government programs that are wasteful and driven not for the jobs they produce, but for the votes they can buy. That is wrong!"

So, between now and the "Krakatoa" elections in November, expect to see a steady but gentle stream of stuff supporting Blakeman's campaign. Like this, for instance...

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

By Bhagyashree Garekar, US Correspondent - WASHINGTON - IN A political stunner that could imperil US President Barack Obama's domestic agenda, a little-known opposition candidate has captured a crucial Senate seat that could block health-care and other major reforms. Mr Scott Brown, a Republican state senator, defeated Ms Martha Coakley, the ruling Democratic Party's candidate, in a one-off election to replace the late Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy. Mr Brown's victory - 51.9 per cent to Ms Coakley's 47.1 per cent - is considered one for the history books. Massachusetts has three times more Democrats than Republicans. But it is the national ramifications of Tuesday's election that has the pundits in a frenzy. The results effectively end the Democrats' 60-vote supermajority in the US Senate, which had allowed them to overcome Republican procedural manoeuvres to block legislation championed by the Obama administration. The loss of a Senate seat in arguably the staunchest of Democratic strongholds would also do much to energise the Republicans and demoralise the Democrats ahead of the mid-term congressional elections in November. '(Mr Obama) was both surprised and frustrated,' presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs said. Others were more blunt. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, a Republican, said his party's victory 'made it very clear that the arrogance in Washington is being rejected by people in Massachusetts and across the country'.

Editor's Comment: President Obama was surprised? Why? Even I knew Brown was going to win. If Obama was surprised by this loss, then he's surrounded himself with "yes-men" which is really bad news. The Democratic party is going to get eaten alive in November if they keep going down the same road for the next nine months. It might already be too late to turn things around, politically speaking. If healthcare passes, the Democrats lose both the House and Senate in the midterm elections. Mark my words. Well, rather than marking my words, would someone please tell Mr. Obama... No wait, even better, "ssshhhhh....." - ignorance is bliss. Let him be surprised again.   

By Claude Cartaginese for newsrealblog.com - Leftists in Latin America are in trouble. Costa Rica, Brazil, and Panama, for example, are all countries where the left has been defeated in recent elections or is in serious trouble. In Venezuela, Hugo Chávez’s approval ratings are down to an all-time low of 27%, and sinking almost as fast as Barack Obama’s. To add insult to injury, Latin Americans are no longer buying the leftist rhetoric. In a survey last month, a staggering 59 percent of Latin Americans surveyed agreed that a market economy is best for the future of the region. And now, in the latest rejection of socialism, billionaire Sebastian Pinera has won Chile’s election, becoming the nation’s first democratically elected right-wing president in 52 years. In Chile, Pinera’s promises to return to free-market principles have resonated with the people. After years of recession and failed socialist policies, Pinera, a Harvard-trained economist, has made it his goal to expand Chile’s economic growth 6 percent a year. Chile, which has the highest standard of living in Latin America, is one of the world’s largest producers of copper. After the socialist nationalization of the copper industry by a succession of leftist governments, billions of dollars in copper revenue were squandered in failed social programs. This win should really rattle Chile’s socialist neighbors. Land-locked Bolivia, ruled by socialist and Chávez-wannabe Evo Morales, has been pressuring Chile to provide it with access to the sea for years. Chávez himself may soon feel the coming tide. Pinera will be no Chávez clone; he will be more like Colombia’s conservative President Alvaro Uribe, an outspoken critic of socialism and Chávez, and a friend of the United States.   

During his speech before the National Assembly yesterday, Panama's president Ricardo Martinelli announced that he would be making changes to his Executive Cabinet, because he says that no one can be assured of a political post; and at the same time the doors are always open to any Panamanian who wants to help change the country for the better. Martinelli said he would be making changes and adjustments to strengthen the team and to call for new and better talents. "Any Minister who falls asleep will be left behind by the train. I will not wait for anyone. The people have been waiting for too long," he said. In talking about the prices for basic goods and services, he said "the people should have access to inexpensive food," and he will address the rising costs of popular consumer products with key measures such as lowering tariffs and the creation of a "cold chain" to help improve prices.(Source: La Critica)   

By Gilberto Pérez for El Siglo - At least 52,950 people have left the PRD after losing the presidential elections of 3 May 2009, according Electoral Tribunal statistics. The PRD dropped from 641,651 members to 588,701 showing a decline of 8.25%. In November 2009, some 4,400 people erased their names from the PRD's books. While the PRD is face with a massive departure from their ranks, the Cambio Democratico party led by Ricardo Martinelli added 9,495 new members in November 2009. From October to November the CD went from 144.353 to 153.848 members, but they are still far short of the PRD which continues to be the largest political party in the country. The Panameñista party, aligned with the Cambio Democratico in the current government is also holding ground at 244,771 members. These numbers are being downplayed by the PRD. Priscilla Valenzuela, the Third Sub Secretary of the PRD's National Executive Committee, downplayed the loss of the people who have left the party. She said it was normal for some PRD members to switch to the CD in search of work and privileged positions. "We are a strong party and we want to tell the members who have left we are always waiting with open arms for them to come back," she said. Alfredo Prieto, a spokesman for the presidency, recommended that the PRD should conduct an internal review to find flaws. "If people go from one party to another it is because they simply did not feel good where they were," Prieto said. (Editor's Comment: Interesting. In the elections of 3 May 2009, Balbina Herrera only received a total of 597,227 votes. At the time of the election the PRD had a total of 641,651 members. Therefore, a full 7% of registered PRD party members did not vote for the party's official candidate. Meanwhile, even though the CD only had 126,807 members at the time of the election, Ricardo Martinelli received 952,333 votes. The obvious conclusion is that registered party members do not decide elections in Panama. Many people who voted for Ricardo Martinelli were not really voting for him so much as they were voting against Balbina Herrera, which are two different things.)   

By Abdiel Augusto Patino for La Estrella - The judge presiding over Panama's Fifth Criminal Court, Oscar Carrasquilla, saved Panama City Mayor Bosco Vallarino from having to make a formal sworn statement before Panama's Anti Corruption Prosecutor, Ramsés Barrera, in the case involving the preparation of a check for $4,000 dollars in the name of his wife, Anabel Espino de Vallarino, to pay travel expenses for a trip to Taiwan - a case that has created a scandal around the Mayor's management of City Hall. The decision was made yesterday by the Fifth Criminal Court, responding to an appeal filed by the Mayor's defense attorney, requesting the suspension of the measure implemented by anti-corruption prosecutors.   

By Denise Lara for Telemetro - After remaining hospitalized for three days under observation at the Paitilla Medical Center, Panama City Mayor Bosco Vallarino was discharged Thursday morning. Lourdes Gonzalez, spokeswoman for the Mayor, said that upon his discharge Vallarino was given three days medical disability, which end Saturday. After having complied with the rest, he could resume his duties on Monday, 14 December. (Editor's Comment: Bosco Vallarino has been avoiding an anti corruption prosecutor who wants to take his statement in a case involving a check for $4,000 dollars that was to pay for travel expenses for his wife, which was disapproved and kicked back by the Comptroller's office - so therefore no money was inappropriately spent. This prosecution of Vallarino is really political, meant as a smoke screen to distract Ricardo Martinelli from his efforts to remove Ana Matilde Gomez from her position as Panama's Attorney General. This is an amazing amount of back alley cat fighting going on right now. The PRD is in a fight for their lives and liberty.)   

By JULIETA ROMERO GARCIA DE PAREDES for La Estrella - After La Estrella denounced that the brother of Panama's Attorney General, César Augusto Gómez Ruiloba, is currently accredited as Panama's consul in Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and the Grenadines, earning a monthly salary of approximately $8,000 dollars between pay and allowances, Ana Matilde Gomez Ruiloba denied any type of influence peddling on Telemetro Reporta. According to the senior government law officer, she has never discussed this issue with either former president Martin Torrijos or current president Ricardo Martinelli, adding that "both have been very respectful in that neither of them have approached me." She said she would have preferred that this situation had not occurred, but that her brother worked on for the Panama Canal Authority for more than 25 years and he was appointed by President Martin Torrijos as the Consul General in Barbados in November 2008, a position which was later ratified by Ricardo Martinelli in July of 2009. According to Telemetro, Ana Matilde Gomez said that if she detects that her brother is not doing his job according to the law "then he should get fired" but that if he is working "then let him work." Gomez also said she once advised her brother on the proper procedures that should be followed in order to work in a transparent manner and to avoid any public questioning.   

By ISIDRO RODRIGUEZ and NEIRO CARRASCO for La Estrella - PANAMA. Just as President Ricardo Martinelli places his chips on the Supreme Court and the Electoral Tribunal, changes and rotations among his Executive Cabinet are expected soon. In fact, upon completing his first 100 days in office, Martinelli himself made it clear he would be making changes to his team, but he did not specify when. The truth is that within the corridors of the Palace of the Herons several names have been mentioned that could play a part in the movements and changes in the Executive. New Year - New Charges: The new year will not only see the placement of two new judges on the Supreme Court, the election of a new President of the Supreme Court, and a new Magistrate on the Electoral Tribunal, but the list will also include structural changes and the creation of new State agencies. On the agenda is the creation of the Ministry of Road Infrastructure and Transport (Mivite), which would result from the merger of the current Ministry of Public Works (MOP) with the Land Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT). Next would be the creation of two new Ministries - the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Security - which would be created to reduce the dependency functions in the Ministry of Government and Justice. Panama's Minister of the Presidency, Jimmy Papadimitriu, said in an interview with La Estrella it is necessary to alleviate the burden of of the Ministry of Government and Justice, and they are considering the creation of a Ministry of Security. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (346 words)

By ARTURO CARLOS CASTILLO for La Estrella - Panama City Mayor Bosco Vallarino said on RPC Radio he would seek the assistance of a lawyer because he is absolutely sure there is a negative campaign being waged against him, because every time he tries to do something his detractors wrongly interpret his actions. The Mayor said it "can't be" that every time he utters an opinion or an idea, everything said about him is bad and that a day doesn't go by that he's not in the newspapers. "I think there is a hidden agenda working against me. I just want to work. I want people to enjoy the Christmas project, because Christmas is for the people," he said. With regards to the direct contracts handed out for the completion of the Christmas villages, Vallarino reiterated it was done this way due to time constraints because a formal bidding process would have taken too much time. (Editor's Comment: Ya' think? Of course there's an orchestrated negative campaign against Bosco Vallarino. The PRD literally hates his friggin' guts, and they will go to any lengths to trip him up. I almost feel bad for Bosco because he inherited a Mayor's office filled with PRD staff that had been working for Juan Carlos Navarro for the past ten years, as well as a Municipal City Council dominated by the PRD. There are literally dozens if not hundreds of people out there, working from the inside of the municipality, looking for each and every opportunity to toss banana peels under his feet.)   

By Lineth Lynch and Isidro Rodriguez for La Estrella - Of the 87 total nominees for the position of Magistrate of the Supreme Court, nine were eliminated from the list. Of these, seven did not provide full documentation, one did not meet the specified age range, and another did not meet the time requirements for the practice of law. The only objection was presented by former Comptroller Alvin Weeden against the nomination of the Judge of the Electoral Tribunal Gerardo Solis. Weeden said Solis does not meet the requirements specified in the Judicial Code because Solis "is not an honest person." (Editor's Comment: With this, the list is down to 78 candidates for two positions on the Supreme Court. Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli will select and appoint two from this list, who will serve on the Supreme Court for ten years. Martinelli will appoint at least two more magistrates later in his administration guaranteed so he will end up having appointed four out of nine. If the court is expanded to a total of twelve justices as has been proposed, then he will appoint the three new seats as well, or a total of seven out of twelve, giving him an absolute majority. Yeah, I know, separation of powers, right...)   

By Carlos Estrada Aguilar for La Critica - The former Comptroller Alvin Weeden yesterday vehemently objected to the candidacy of Gerardo Solis as a magistrate on the Supreme Court. His complaint dates back to the days when Solis served as director of the Social Investment Fund (FIS) under the administration of former president Ernesto Pérez Balladares. Weeden accused Solis of having committed the dishonest act of burning the receipts that would have sustained the costs of the discretionary spending of Perez Balladares, a situation that Weeden says slowed their investigation against the former president. "I accuse him of having destroyed public documents and I also accuse him of doing all sorts of illegal and improper acts when he was the Electoral Prosecutor," Weeden said. Weeden thinks Solis is not an honest person, therefore his candidacy would violate Article No. 8 of the Judicial Code. "I disqualify him, and I leave it there for President Ricardo Martinelli for his evaluation," said Weeden. "When we have judges on the Supreme Court such as Gerardo Solis, we will continue with the same problems - that is to say, with a country were there is no justice and where there is noncompliance with the law," he said. Weeden and Solis have had political differences that go back to the time when Solis served as the Electoral Prosecutor and Weeden was one of the most visible faces of the Panameñista party under Mireya Moscoso. At that time, Solis accused Weeden of being responsible for the buying of votes in the Darien province to promote the candidacy of the former legislator Haydee Milanés de Lay. (Editor's Comment: President Ricardo Martinelli will appoint two new faces to the Supreme Court in early January 2010, and the potential candidates are jockeying for position.)   

By Carlos Estrada Aguilar for La Critica - Panama's Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Varela visited Honduras for the purpose of renewing Panama's support for the upcoming elections that will be held on 29 November 2009. Varela began his visit and met with the major presidential candidates in the upcoming elections, Elvin Santos of the Partido Liberal and Porfirio Lobo of the Partido Nacional. The presidential candidate of the opposition Partido Nacional, Porfirio Lobo, leads by 16 points over the candidate from the ruling Partido Liberal, Elvin Santos, for the elections on 29 November in Honduras, according to a survey by the firm CID-Gallup, noting that the crisis caused by political coup against Manuel Zelaya has damaged his party and candidacy of Santos, and has benefited the opposition. Varela also met with a delegation of Magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Honduras, headed by José Saúl Escobar. During the meeting, the Varela reiterated the support of the Government of Panama to measures that will help to hold the election in Honduras in a democratic manner, under the best conditions possible, in a transparent manner, with proper organization and a representative level of citizen participation.   

By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ (AP) – TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — The coup last summer in this tiny, Central American country blew up into an international incident, with thousands of Hondurans taking to the streets while everyone from Barack Obama to Fidel Castro lined up behind ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Now, with Zelaya still holed up in the Brazilian Embassy, voters will choose a new president Nov. 29 from the political establishment that has dominated Honduras for decades. No one is pushing the leftist agenda of the ousted leader, who said he was trying to lift a country where seven in 10 people are poor. That's because Zelaya was disturbing a deeply conservative society that has long cherished peace and stability. "It's a risk-averse culture," said Manuel Orozco, a Central America expert with the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue. The months of turmoil as Zelaya pressed for his reinstatement, the negotiation and U.S. shuttle diplomacy are about to be overtaken by business as usual — Honduran style. Even many of the poor who supported Zelaya as he aligned himself with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Latin America's new left say they will vote for conservative front-runner Porfirio Lobo, a 61-year-old wealthy businessman who is ahead by double digits in the polls. (more) (See Comments)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (1,130 words)

By Enrique A. Morgan Cox for the Panama America - In harsh terms Panama's president Ricardo Martinelli told Panama City Mayor Bosco Vallarino to stop wasting time and to "collect the garbage, that's what he has to do." He had the same advice for the Mayor of San Miguelito, Hector Valdes Carrasquilla. Martinelli's statements came during a city clean up drive organized by the Ministry of Public Works in the area of Porqueriza in Rio Abajo, where he saw first hand the accumulation of garbage in various parts of that community. The president of the nation lashed out at both mayors and called upon them to "stop politicking and get to work."   

By LEONARDO FLORES for La Prensa - Panama City Mayor Bosco Vallarino will be left to his own devices to deal with the crisis in the Municipality of Panama that threatens to affect the ruling alliance. Yesterday, the Vice President of Panama and President of the Panameñista political party, Juan Carlos Varela, kept his distance from those who vigorously supported his choice to head the capital's municipality. "The mayor is an adult. He is master of his actions and we will see how the mayor continues forward with Mrs. [Roxana] Mendez. They should see how they can seek to work together to fulfill the mandate given to them by the people," was Varela's comment after the resignation of Mendez from her posit as an adviser in City Hall. Varela added that both the mayor and the Deputy Mayor should be dedicated to solving the problems of improving the quality of life for residents of the capital, among which he mentioned the collection of garbage. Mendez met yesterday with Vallarino to formalize her decision to leave the post she occupied as an adviser. At that meeting, the mayor - who cancelled his public events scheduled for yesterday - said the door remains open for Mendez. Sources inside of the presidential palace reported that Mendez communicated with the President, Ricardo Martinelli - who is also chairman of Democratic Change party - to announce her decision. Despite the crisis caused by differences of opinion on several decisions made by Vallarino, he continues to push forward his controversial projects. (Editor's Comment - I feel so much better now that I've been reminded by Panama's Vice President that the Mayor of Panama City is an adult. "...WTF, over?")   

By Zelideth Cortez for La Critica - Panama's Attorney General Ana Matilde Gomez said yesterday she has "no political leanings, because I have never fought for any political party." According to Gomez, there are people who seek to discredit her for the sole purpose of convincing the public that she is unsuitable for the position, a situation which goes against our institutions. "The performance of my office has a period specified in the constitution, which unless I commit a crime, must be respected," she said. When speaking about the document submitted by Mitchell Doens of the PRD, on alleged money laundering operations through Banistmo, Gomez said the authenticity of the document has to be verified, and it falls to the prosecutor to determine if a crime has been committed or not, and if the source document is official and original.   

La Critica - After having been left without a political party, the National Assemblyman from the 8-4 Circuit, Hernan Delgado, on Monday joined the ranks of Ricardo Martinelli's Democratic Change party. Delgado said that following the disappearance of the Partido Vanguardia Moral de la Patria after the national election of 3 May 2009 he was left without a political party, and this exercise was compulsory because he has to belong to one. "After several months I decided to join the CD because I feel it is a party that has an excellent program of government and a leader who is meeting the commitments made to the Panamanian people," Delgado said. (Editor's Comment: The Partido Vanguardia Moral de la Patria political party was dissolved after the 3 May 2009 elections because their candidate, Guillermo Endara, did not receive enough of a percentage of the popular vote to remain viable. Since Hernan Delgado was elected on that ticket, he had to join another party, and he picked the CD. There's no real change to the balance of power in the National Assembly, because whatever party Delgado belonged to on the books, he will still be voting along the lines of the "grand alliance" and generally against the PRD.)   

Panama America - Next Monday the National Government will file a suit before the Public Ministry against the Secretary General of the Partido Revolucionario Democratico (PRD), Mitchell Doens and anyone else who turns out to be responsible, after the political leader failed to respond to the challenge laid down for him to present the evidence he supposedly holds to backup the public statements he made last weekend. Alfredo Prieto, the Secretary of State Communications, said that faced with the apparent failure of Doens to backup his claims with evidence, the federal government filed a complaint for libel. Last Sunday Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli gave Doens a 24 hour deadline to provide the supposed evidence to prosecutors of the Public Ministry. Last Sunday Doens said he supposedly holds DEA documents alleging illegal conduct on the part of unnamed members of the current government. The PRD, through their new Secretary General, said Prieto, is again trying to resist the changes the new administration is bringing to bear, while they cling to the old petty partisan political practices which directly cause the serious problems afflicting the people of Panama that the administration of Ricardo Martinelli is committed to solve. According to Prieto, it is very suspicious that the PRD through their Secretary General, has assumed an uncompromising defense of the businessmen who have amassed fortunes for years, and who now refuse to show solidarity with the neediest members of the population by fulfilling their responsibility to pay taxes in the same way as the rest of the citizenry. (See Comments)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (1,036 words)