What the papers say: Election promises and the reality of ruling

Many promises of ”change” made by Ricardo Martinelli have not been fulfilled said El Estrella de Panama on Tuesday.

 In a front page lead story headlined “The eight reversals of Martinelli” the publication said that promises he made in his presidential campaign can be reduced to one word: "change." However, after eight months in office, there are many that that have not been fulfilled.
He criticized criticized the multiple trips of his predecessor Martín Torrijos., "The country is on autopilot," said the campaign. Today, after making 15 trips abroad, travel doesn’t seem so bad

He promised to use its own aircraft for official travel, but after six months in office, ordered the purchase of a $22 million modern jet.

The paper cited other flip flops like the closure of the FIS (Social Investment Fund), the budget for the first lady, delivering funds to the carnival, the trustees in hospitals,and the flat tax.
In a full page article inside, the paper said that within its schematic, aggressive and intelligent campaign, the businessman’s strategy focused on criticism of the Torrijos government allowing him to get six out of ten votes on May 3.

But after eight months of sitting in the presidential chair Martinelli’s perspective seems to have radically reversed.

"No priest recalls when he was sexton," a popular saying, fits well into the decisions of President Richard Martinelli.

"I’m not going to buy an airplane, I use mine," was one of the famous phrases of Martinelli, the candidate.

But Martinelli the president, had a different view. "You have to buy the plane. This aircraft [ the forme rpresidential plane] is chipped." With this justification a new aircraft for the State was purchased at a cost of $ 22 million.
This would become the first of the reverses by the government.

In his speeches as a candidate, Martinelli lashed out against the FIS.

He said that it was an ineffective institution, and called it the focus of corruption.
Martinelli arrived, put on the presidential sash and made a 180 degree change. The FIS would not be closed, but "restructured".

The same happened with the Office of the First Lady.
An election promise said "to prevent any slippage of public money, the budget … of the Office of the First Lady will be eliminated.”

Torrijos’s travels, was another favorite campaign theme. Martinelli, the candidate, took every opportunity to challenge the many trips made by the former president.
He even mentioned the former head of government "partying" on tours abroad. Now, after 15 trips abroad in only 8 months in office, the president’s perception has changed and justifies his trips by saying "the best person to promote is the country’s president," and acknowledged having been “wrong" when he questioned the former president.

Martinelli criticized his predecessors, for advertisements of work performed in each government sector "The works are the people," said Martinelli, the candidate.

But on arrival at the Palace of the Herons the virus had spread to Martinelli, the president. A symptom of the changing attitude is evident in a plaque placed on the National Bank of Calidonia reading: "… Ricardo Martinelli Administration …"

Of course, the reversals of the president has defenders and detractors.

For the opposition saying one thing yesterday, and today another, is not healthy.

Hannibal Culiolis, vice president of the Popular Party described the election as a “sham” that sold the Panamanian electorate.
"Martinelli said what he had to say to win votes; it has not translated into work.”
But Panamañista representative. Francisco German German cites several examples for his support : "the 100 to the 70 program gives people who have no social insurance a decent old age and an increase in the minimum wage for workers who earn the least. In San Miguelito, and elsewhere in the country, thousands of students will receive a bonus, backpacks and textbooks for their education. "
For political analyst Mario Rognoni, Martinelli has accomplished some "immediate pledges" but has others outstanding such as enhanced security, improved cost of living and public transport.
Rognoni estimated that in areas such as the purchase of the presidential aircraft, foreign travel and the restructuring of the FIS "the president realized that each of these aspects has its reason for being and has rolled back what was said about them.” {jathumbnail off}