70% don’t beleve president’s version of Bosco resignation

In spite of the protestations of government spin merchants, 70% of Panamanians believe the resignation of Mayor Bosco Vallarino was the result of pressure from President Ricardo Martinelli.

Political observers believe the signal is not good for Panama’s image and respected analyst Edwin Cabreratold La Estrella that the issue, and the spin put on it, affects the credibility of the president, something that “'will be very difficult to recover.’”

According to a Dichter & Neira poll, 70% of the population believes that the chief executive was behind the departure of the mayor.  
1,200 people were surveyed, 70.3% of whom  believed there was a presidential shove,  while another 17.7% believed that health problems were responsible for the controversial resignation.

President Martinelli has denied any connection with the Vallarino resignation and said  that Bosco expressed  the hope that Roxana Méndez, a CD party loyalist, would succeed him in office. 

Members of the Panamenista  Party , believe that Martinelli 'lies' and the latest incident  is another sign of his "authoritarianism."

“Politically, the issue does not end there” says La Estrella. For  poll respondents, the scandal that began last week affected the political image of Panama.

As measured by Dichter & Neira, 66.2% viewed Vallarino's resignation negatively , and 22.8% considered it positive. 

Political analyst Edwin Cabrera, said  the chronology of the events that occurred gives the perception that democracy '”is hit."  Cabrera said that: "The president seeks unnecessary problems, as happened with the resignation of Vallarino.

If the ex mayor  had not attended a meeting in the Palace of the Herons, negative comments would not point to the president. Martinelli is involved in “a number of versions and we do not know the true one” he said. 

 The analyst also considered  it “difficult but not impossible” to retrieve the credibility of Martinelli and said that the current political situation not only affects him, but the entire political class.  Vallarino's resignation comes amid friction between the Panameñista Party and Democratic Change, nearly five months after the breakup of the alliance that paved the way for Martinelli to become president.

 Vallarino resigned Thursday, January 12 citing health problems.Meanwhile his family,  said there was pressure.