Martinelli dubbed volatile and intolerant, after media attack

President Ricardo Martinelli’s latest attack on the media over coverage of scandals haunting the government, has provoked strong reactions from international and local media groups, and Panama’s Vice President.

"It is getting out of line," the president said during the inauguration of the forty-second version of the Veragua’s Fair on Friday February 15 .
"I'm tired. Tired of me getting into things that I have nothing to do with and this cannot go on. I'm sick of the way they are treating me and my family," he said.
Martinelli added that he will take steps that will allow the law to correct the actions of the "opposition media" who refuse to acknowledge the truth
The cause of his latest outburst was reporting on the dispute between promoter ShowPro, which has family connections to Martinelli, and Puerto Rican singer Don Omar, who was supposed to receive $267,500 to perform at the closing of the Panama City Carnival last week.
Ex comptroller Alvin Weeden, recently said that the ShowPro, company that belonged to "the son of the President." had received $267,500 to bring Don Omar to Panama. Stories also appeared about other large scale direct contracts to ShowPro, and investigations in Italy into alleged bribery in Panama, linked to the government’s purchase of helicopters from a Finemecanica, whose president has been arrested and charged with bribery over sale of planes to India. Investigations of the Panama connection are continuing.
The, President of ShowPro, Alfredo Arias, has also threatened legal action against Weeden and against several national media.

Higher Priorities

Vice President and Panameñista party leader Juan Carlos Varela, said "Attacking the media raises more questions," Attacking the media was not correct, since the money could have been used on other things he said. "There are higher priorities than bringing an artist to Panama"
On the other hand, Varela, who was in Atalaya, Veraguas, for a religious festival, said his party would sign the elections ethics pact being promoted by the Catholic Church without suggesting any changes. We will sign it as it is," Varela said.
Candanedo Rafael, president of the National College of Journalists,said Martinelli's statements reflect a undemocratic nature.
"They are anti-democratic and out of line with freedom of expression. As head of State he is responsible, and it is his duty, to offer explanations to the community, he said.
Aleman Simon Bolivar, president of the Forum of Journalists of Panama, said that this is a form of intimidation. "That was the style of [Rafael] Correa (President of Ecuador) and is something that is used by an autocracy."
Filemon Medina, secretary general of the Union of Journalists of Panama, said that the President's words may involve a strategy to justify laws that punish media that criticize his management.
"They sound like threats and warnings, and I worry about what kind of ideas his team could be plotting to stop him being dumped and to block criticism against his government," said Medina, who described Martinelli as "volatile and intolerant”.
Claudio Paolillo, President of the Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information of the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), described the president’s attitude towards the Panamanian media as autocratic
"President Martinelli seems too reactive to news reports. As President, he should never forget that he is an agent, which means that he is controlled by citizens, not by himself, "said Paolillo.

Public Scrutiny

"In a democracy, every President and other officials are subject, by choice, to full public scrutiny. They have to answer for their actions because they manage public resources and, instead of bothering, should be ready to be accountable. "
Paolillo said Martinelli’s reactions to criticism represent an attack on freedom of expression. "His angry reactions and making announcements regarding measures against the media to  'satisfy his appetite' are veiled threats to press freedom and can encourage a flood of lawsuits against the press. Such a situation would affect freedom of expression in Panama, because it can lead to self-censorship," said Paolillo.