Assembly advisors growing in number and cost

 “Advisors” who drift  around Panama’s National Assembly (said to be short of funds)  cost the taxpayer $2.7 million a year.

The figures come from an updated report from the  National Comptroller.

When the Martinelli administration took office there were less than 80. There are now 120, for an assembly with 7l legislators.

At present the entity  faces financial trouble, according to a circular signed on July 18 by the current president of the Assembly, Sergio Galvez,  and distributed internally.

After the document was leaked to the media, Galvez said on Tuesday July 24, in a press release, that there was  "no crisis" in the Assembly.

 However, he  did not rule out reducing the number of advisors, as part of cost containment.