Martinelli labels PRD presidential candidate, countrys most corrupt

If there were any hopes that the upcoming presidential campaign was going to be an ethical debate based upon issues, they were smothered by President Ricardo Martinelli on Monday June 4.

Soon after the announcement of the record high turnout in the PRD primaries for Mayors and local legislators, Martinelli said that PRD presidential candidate Juan Carlos Navarro is "the most corrupt person in the country," says a La Prensa report.

He promised that soon there will be the unveiling of corruption cases dating back to when Navarro was mayor of Panama City from 1999 to 2009.
 Navarro was the PRD vice presidential candidate who was defeated by Martinelli in 2009.
The PRD and Panamenista and Peoples (PP) parties have signed an agreement to run a clean campaign, but the Martinelli controlled CD party abstained.
Commentators and media reports have alleged smear campaigns against journalists and politicians during the Martinelli years while opposition voices have claimed an ongoing level of corruption in government circles.
Recent recordings appearing on YouTube and publicized by Martinelli on Twitter led to the withdrawal of Mayoral candidate Roberto (Bobby) Velasquez.