The head winds of change for Varela and his party

The ruling alliance between Panama’s Democratic Change (CD) and the Panamanista Party is at a crossroads with the country’s president and vice-president butting heads over who will run  in 2014. 

On Saturday, August 27, President Ricardo Martinelli confirmed that a previous  handshake deal with his now Vice-President, Juan Carlos Varela,  giving  Varela the next bite at the cherry  was dead, and that the CD party Martinelli founded, and funded, would be running a presidential candidate in the 2014 elections.

That’s not how it was supposed to be. A pre-election agreement gave Martinelli the seat in 2009, with the “guarantee” that the Panamenista party, headed by Varela would name the candidate for 2014.

Since the election voters have been jumping ship by the thousand as they seek to get or solidify jobs or political posts. Martinelli claimed an increase of over 82,000 members to his fiefdom over the weekend, pushing the Panamanista party into second place.

The National Assembly has changed the voting rules, and calls for a run off in no presidential candidate gets a 50% plus vote in the first round. The move favors the CD party because, if the vote was close with the stronger  CD in the lead, and there was a run off, it is likely that their candidate would have enough second round votes to win the election.

But Varela  is undeterred and told La Prensa: "The Panamanista Party will go with its own candidate in May 2014 and, the people will  decide," said Varela in an interview with La Prensa.

Martinelli and Varela in 2009 sealed the "Alliance for Change," which won the elections with 61% of the vote. 

Then, Martinelli made a pact with Varela to be the coalition’s presidential candidate in 2014.

Meanwhile Varela believes there are more urgent matters to deal with than a broken promise.

"For me the hardest hit has been the approval of the sale of land titling in Paitilla.” A reference to the acquisition of prime real estate land with no fee by people close to the president.

According to Varela, instead of spending its time on the approval of the second round, "the government should focus on being more coordinated and united, working to solve the problems of the people" …  start fulfilling campaign promises and fight for transparency in the efficient management of public funds. That should be the priority."

The vice president says he will not give up his position as chancellor to launch his 2014 campaign. " My political campaign will be to work for my country and the Foreign Ministry to promote initiatives on sensitive issues important to the people in security, clean water, education and food production, "he said.

Referring to the  band wagon jumpers he said: "Whoever changed, the doors are open.

Martinelli, reported Sunday that his party managed to enroll 82, 219 new members over the weekend, moving the Panamanistas down to the  second political force in the country.