Ex mayoralty candidates challenge election results

The losing candidates in Panama's 2009 mayoralty race are presenting   a petition to the Supreme Court for the annulment of the results.

The election was won by Bosco Vallarino in a controversial campaign when it  came to light that he was an American citizen, and not eligible to run.

The campaign was also smeared by “dirty tricks” as allegations were circulated that the front runner Roberto Velazquez had received funding from  jailed Columbian con artist, David Murcia Guzman. The allegations were never proved and later it was revealed that the governing party, CD (Democratic Change) had received money from Murcia Guzman. Velasquez was ahead in the polls by as much as 10 points at the time of the allegations, and he sank to 10 points behind.

After Vallarino’s election, the National Assembly, then run by a coalition of CD and Panamenista’s (Bosco’s party) voted to re-instate  and back date his Panamanian citizenship. 

After two ineffectual years in office Vallarino resigned for “health” reasons following a stormy confrontation with President Ricardo Martinelli in the presidential palace. Roxana Méndez, the former deputy mayor and a founder member of the CD party who had been given a government post by the president, was appointed to replace Vallarino.

After taking office she began a housecleaning of staff at city hall.Now the previous candidates are seeking to annul her appointment.

Miguel Antonio Bernal, Roberto Velazquez and Miguel Batista will be presenting a petition for annulment of Vallarino’s election based on the judgment of the Supreme Court stating that Vallarino had no citizenship rights at the time of the elections. It will be presented within two weeks.

 Velazquez said. "I do not want to become Mayor by these conditions. One must go with the popular vote. What the petition will show is that the mayoral appointment was ??illegal throughout the process, as we said from the beginning … and  the deputy mayors luck has run out”  as her  appointment to that role would be "invalid" so now she cannot exercise the office of mayor.