Support for PRD Presidential hopeful wavering

The reaction of PRD presidential candidate Juan Carlos Navarro to news of his meeting with President Ricardo Martinelli is "an insult to the intelligence of the membership says a former secretary general of the party.

"This creates a big upset in the bases, because the party knows you need a presidential candidate who is fighting the government and its policies, which Navarro does not do said Richard Doens,

He said thatNavarro's argument, that the meeting with Martinelli on August 15was casual, does more damage to his campaign.

But: "I do not see Navarro renouncing his candidacy" said Doens, when consulted by La Prensa on the possibility that the party might seek another presidential candidate for 2014

However, last weekend , Francisco Sanchez Cardenas , president of the group of Omar Torrijos , spoke of that likelihood.

" The membership of the party ( … ) begins to feel that he will not win the election and start talking that we will have to change candidates ," he said .

The reactions of both PRD leaders come a month and two days after the Martinelli-Navarro,at Martinelli's office in Paitilla .

On August 15th , of Panama la Vieja, Navarro did not attend an event organized by the Mayor of Panama commemorating 494 years of the founding which would give recognition to the former mayors of the capital district .

However, neither this nor the following day there was an announcement of the meeting .The details came to light later two weeks later .
Analysts and political sectors representatives agree that the PRD campaign jas suspended attacks against the government and, by contrast, is " very passive " says La Prensa,
" Navarro has been very quiet , very passive . Do not know if it's coincidence or causality," said analyst Menalco Solis.

Unlike other opposition politicians , Navarro has avoided comment on the contentious such as unemployment of educators [ late August ] , the dispute over the land of JuandHombrón, Martinelli interference in other organs of state and the case of Pastor Edwin Alvarez.

" The PRD crisis is a reflection of the ability of getting Martinelli internally in all sectors, not only of the organs of the state, but also in labor groups and political parties ," said Teresita Arias Yániz , vice President of the Partido Popular.

Political analyst Edwin Cabrera said the situation created by the meeting with Martinelli Navarro affects the PRD internally
" Navarro , or whatever PRD presidential candidate , you need the party united and strengthened enough . Let there be no leakage of votes ," he said .

He added that everything that weakens some of the opposition candidates favors the government [ José Domingo Arias ] .