Vice-President Varela wins primary to run for top job
Juan Carlos Varela on Sunday, March 17, became the second Panama presidential candidate for the 2014 election by winning the Panameñista primary.
Varela accepted the nomination in a rally at the El Panama hotel that earlier had hosted the celebrations of Juan Carlos Navarro who won the PRD nomination
The primaries were marked by low turnout and complaints by some members that they did not appear on the voting rolls said La Prensa.
The candidate, who is also the vice president, arrived at 6:44 p.m. at the hotel with his wife and members of his family but while addressing his supportersavoided mentioning the low turnout and instead said that today was the first step in winning the presidency.
"Today we start a mission and a commitment to install a government that puts the people first," he said.
Varela said that the victory was for all Panamanians, including members of the CD and PRD parties.
"I'm not a politician by profession," he said. "I entered public life to transform the government…I am human and I made mistakes in my public life. But I have always been clear to whom I owe."
Varela said that he has transformed his party. "We have had difficult moments, but we have never deviated from our goal," he said.
He added that four years ago he gave up the presidential candidacy so that he could ensure that projects such as the "100 for 70" and universal scholarships could become a reality.
"That has improved the life of hundreds of Panamanians," he said.
Varela said that he fought when he saw that the interests of the people were being affected when he was in the alliance with the CD.
He said he doesn't regret having broken the alliance and said he, along with the rest of the country, are upset with the actions of the CD.
Varela received the support of former Minister of Public Works Carlos Duboy and other party leaders, among them Alcibiades Vásquez, José Luis Varela and José Isabel Blandón. Also present were former ministers Alberto Vallarino and Álvaro Alemán.
