April 17 Presidential Debate

The cycle of presidential debates organized by law by the Electoral Court before the elections on May 5 closed on Wednesday, April 17, with the clash of proposals between six of the eight presidential candidates: Martín Torrijos, Ricardo Lombana, Rómulo Roux, Melitón Arrocha, Zulay Rodríguez and Maribel Gordón.  The government candidate, José Gabriel Carrizo, who had participated in the debates on February 26 at the University of Panama and on March 13 at the Panamanian Debate Association, was absent from the debate coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama.  Mulino who leads the Presidential campaign by a wide margin according to polls and surveys, also did not attend.  José Raúl Mulino Quintero (born 13 June 1959) is a Panamanian lawyer, diplomat and politician, running for president in the 2024 Panamanian election, as a substitute to former president Ricardo Martinelli.

At the actual speaking event, the 6 candidates argued a number of points.  Lombana challenged his political opponents with the agenda of ‘breaking’ monopolies.  Rómulo Roux discussed the creation of 500 thousand new jobs, and having confidence in Panama even though the mine is leaving.  New water treatment plants were discussed, and reducing the number of deputies, and combatting tax evasion, three topics discussed by Gordon, Rodríguez and Arrocha.  José Gabriel Carrizo tried to victimize the beneficiaries of the controversial economic aid program.  Torrijos proposed employment for young people, buying Bayano and eliminating surgical delay situations for patients.  As we get closer to the end of the month, the candidates are planning their final big finishes with huge parties, music, and drumming, and plenty of excitement.