Martinelli ignores polls, promises victory in 2014

President, Ricardo Martinelli, told cheering party members on  Sunday, May 27, that  the ruling Democratic Change (CD) will remain in power in the 2014 general election.

The bravado came in the face of  recent polls showing his declining popularity and on the  day that a poll was published showing that the overwhelming majority of Panamanians reject a second presidential term and would not support Martinelli backed candidates at elections of 2014.

 To applause of party members  and CD supporters,in Turiscentro, Tocumen, Martinelli urged support for his party to remain in government after this period of management

 Last week at an official event in Chiriqui,   he said the ruling group looked to winning  the next election. 

But his remarks contrasted with the majority (86%) of Panamanians, who reject amendments to the Constitution to allow immediate reelection. In addition, most of the1,309  respondents to the latest Unimer poll  said they would reject the candidates is supported by Martinelli  or his representativesaccording to the latest survey by  Unimer Research For Leadership. commissioned by La Prensa

 At this time, the Executive is holding a constitutional reform package, prepared by a team of leading citizens, whjich does not include immediate reelection. However, CD leaders have raised the possibility. The issue caused such strong reaction that Martinelli signed in February a statement ruling out seeking re-election.

When he united with Vice President Juan Carlos Varela to form a coalition government, Martinelli  reached an agreement that Varela would be the next presidential candidate, but later canceled the agreement, one of the steps leading to the dissolution of the coalition and vicious infighting between the two.

The survey was conducted between May 17-20  and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8%