Martinelli adds Monaco Grand Prix to his sporting calendar

THE FORMULA 1 Grand Prix in Monaco is the latest sports interest of Panama’s most traveled  leader,President Ricardo Martinelli.

Although no announcement was made about his departure from the country to the principality, TV cameras picked him up on a balcony with Prince Albert II of Monaco.

This, says La Prensa was the president's 78th trip including major soccer events in Europe  the Olympics and, reportedly, the World Cup in South Africa, plus side trips to Greece and Mediterranean Islands.
The surprise of seeing the president witnessing the race in Monaco drew the attention of several politicians, who said that the president must announce his travels.
One of them was the president of the Partido Popular, Milton Henriquez, who said that the President should announce if the trip was private or state.
"He has to advise under what conditions he is traveling. If he is traveling on the state, he has to say what the benefits will be received by the country," he said.
Rogelio Paredes, Vice President of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), said it was " suspicious not to announce his departure. It is a not sin to travel, but being the president his sole responsibility is to the country and he should announce his trips."
Paredes highlighted the fact that the vice-president [Juan Carlos Varela], remains stays away from his post. "We need to know who is in charge, and the time he will be away” he said
La Prensa tried to get a statement from the Ministry of Communication of the State but only said he would find out. Other ministers consulted claimed to be unaware of where Martinelli had traveled.

And who won  the event)? In lieu of a Twitter message, the Daily Mirror reported:
Nico Rosberg drove beautifully towards a second Grand Prix win and his first at Monaco, avoiding incidents to beat Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

The Mercedes star led throughout having dominated the rest of the weekend, but it wasn't so easy for others.

Felipe Massa, Pastor Maldonado, Sergio Perez, Romain Grosjean and Daniel Ricciardo were all involved in crashes as carbon fibre littered the circuit.

But Vettel's second-place finish means he extends his lead to 21 points from Kimi Raikkonen, who could only finish 10th.

Mercedes remain fourth in the constructors' title race, but remain under a cloud following news they'd tested Pirelli tyres following the Spanish Grand Prix a fortnight ago.

The F1 season resumes in Canada on June 9. No word yet if the president is planning to visit Panama's latest FTA partner.