Deputy hints at renewal of alliance if Moscoso heads Panamenistas
Panama’s political waters got muddier on Sunday with the suggestion of a ruling party deputy that they could rebuild an old alliance if former president Mireya Moscoso becomes leader of the Panamenista party.
Vidal Garcia said on Sunday, September 2, that Democratic Change (CD) could regignite the alliance with the Panamenista’s, if Moscoso who was president 1999-2004 replaces Juan Carlos Varela as party president.
Recent polls listed Moscoso as Panama's most unpopular president, Next to Ricardo Martinelli, since the US invasion in 1989
The Panamenista Party, led by Varela, allied itself with the CD in 2009, based on an agreement with Martinelli that Varela would be the presidential candidate of choice in the next election. Martinelli backed away from that agreement and later fired Varela as Chancellor of the country although he continues to hold his elected post as Vice President, in spite of widespread political attacks,
The ruling coalition broke up, and the CD majority was saved only by some deputies jumping ship to the ruling party, with numerous allegations that money changed hands as they changed parties.
"We can ally ourselvesagain. nnd be called the Alliance for Change, comprising CD and Panamanian Party” said Garcia.
Moscoso has repeatedly backed Martinelli management, even after the rupture of the alliance between her party and the CD.