Soap opera scandal coming to an end – Martinelli

Panama’s “soap opera”  scandal is coming to an end and there will be major developments in the coming days said President Ricardo Martinellion Saturday, April 29.

He was referring to the scandal of alleged bribes to him and other officials of his government to achieve several contracts with an Italian company. 

He made the comments while on a photo-op mission to Chorillo accompanied by deputy Sergio Galvez, distributing bags of food and hugs and kisses to local residents hard hit by the rising cost of living.

He also brushed aside the concern of members of the National Commission on Electoral Reform and Electoral Court judges (TE) about how little attention has been given to electoral reforms.

"There is no longer so much fuss over the issue," the president said. On the second round vote included in the proposed electoral reforms introduced last week by a legislative subcommittee,  he said: " This is a fight between the Democratic Revolutionary Party and Democratic,Change and Democratic Change will win," when asked about statements by the President, of the Electoral Court, Judge Gerardo Solis, that : "In all prior periods there has been an advance of democracy, but in this government for the first time we're back."

Solis reiterated that reforms that are tailored to a government are unacceptable. .

Martinelli's remarks follow the closing  of the last session  of the legislature, which. according to reviews of the civil society and the TE ended without the adoption of a consensus on electoral matters.