Fighting words for an election 18 months away

It’s going to be a long hard slog to the election for Panama Mayor in 2014, and the citizenry will have to show extra fortitude in the face of  18 months of political jousting and posturing.

Panamenista Party deputy Jose  Isabel Blandon jumped back into the ring on  Saturday, November 10, with his boots on, and they were aimed at  Democratic Change (CD) deputy  Sergio Galvez, the man  who wields his position as deputy chairman of the National Assembly like a shillelagh.

I had predicted only the day before that the contest  would be  an interesting one before the fat lady got to sing.

 With 18 months to go the in fighting  has already started and, like even the most ardent  party  faithful in the recent long drawn out US election, lots of local folks will be looking forward to the end of campaigning in 2014. Just how much political fisticuffs can a citizen stand.

Blandon, with his own mayoralty ambitions was quick to react to  the Galvez boast, made on Friday,  that with CD backing  he would win the seat. No candidate for mayor of Panama and carry the flag of the ruling CD will win the position in 2014, said Blandon.

"No one  bearing the CD flag  will have a chance in the next elections in 2014," said Blandon.

Speaking on   RPC Radio he said that that although the deputy chairman of the National Assembly announced , his aspirations for the post, he could not win against him in the race..

"The best thing  for Sergio Gálvez to do is keep the community board of El Chorrillo, because I don’t think he can achieve something beyond that," he said.

Another  Panameñista deputy Luis Eduardo Quirós, riposted: "In a battle vs Blandon, “Chello” Galvez  will be  left behind in the ambulance” . With fighting words like that, even before the official weigh-in, it’s going to be a bloody battle.

Galvez, who wears his passions on his sleeve can be a mean fighter, and has a strong base in Chorillo. Whether that can garner enough votes to overrun Blandon,  Balbina Herrera, and other potential strong candidates, including the present mayor, is another story, But this is Panama.

 Fighting words for an election 18 months away

It’s going to be a long hard slog to the election for Panama Mayor in 2014, and the citizenry will have to show some fortitude in the face of  18 months of political jousting and posturing.

Panamenista Party deputy Jose  Isabel Blandon jumped back into the ring on  Saturday, November 10, with his boots on, and they were aimed at  Democratic Change (CD) deputy  Sergio Galvez, the man  who wields his position as deputy chairman of the National Assembly like a shillelagh.

I had predicted only the day before that the contest  would be  an interesting one before the fat lady got to sing.

 With 18 months to go the in fighting  has already started and, like even the most ardent  party  faithful in the recent long drawn out US election, lots of local folks will be looking forward to the end of campaigning in 2014. Just how much political fisticuffs can a citizen stand.

Blandon, with his own mayoralty ambitions was quick to react to  the Galvez boast, made on Friday,  that with CD backing  he would win the seat. No candidate for mayor of Panama and carry the flag of the ruling CD will win the position in 2014, said Blandon.

"No flag bearing the CD will have a chance in the next elections in 2014," said Blandon.

Speaking on   RPC Radio he said that that although the deputy chairman of the National Assembly announced , his aspirations for the post, he could not win against him in the race..

"The best thing  for Sergio Gálvez to do is keep the community board of El Chorrillo, because I don’t think he can achieve something beyond that," he said.

Another  Panameñista deputy Luis Eduardo Quirós, riposted: "In a battle vs Blandon, “Chello” Galvez  will be  left behind in the ambulance” . With fighting words like that, even before the official weigh-in, it’s going to be a bloody battle.

Galvez, who wears his passions on his sleeve can be a mean fighter, and has a strong base in Chorillo. Whether that can garner enough votes to overrun Blandon,  Balbina Herrera, and other potential strong candidates, including the present mayor, is another story, But this is Panama.