Wikileaks: U.S. embassy not optimistic about Almengor appointment

Diplomatic correspondence of the U.S. Embassy in Panama in 2009  included at least one comment related to Supreme Judge José Abel Almengor, according to Wikileaks.

The latest Panama-centro leaks were  published yesterday in the newspaper El Pais in Spain, on the same day that Almengor tendered his resignation for “personal reasons.”

The cable said the embassy was aware  of "increased political interference in appointments", which was possible "because of the historically weak judicial system."

It further indicated that in October of 2009, President, Ricardo Martinelli, was preparing to appoint two judges to the Supreme Court: Gerardo Solis and Jose Abel Almengor, names that were not viewed optimistically by  the U.S. diplomatic mission.

The same cable said that if Martinelli stood by such appointments,l it would end the "honeymoon" with the local press.