Opposition grows to Martinelli property tax increase

A PROPERTY tax revaluation plan proposed by the government was criticized Friday, November 8, by Panameñista presidential candidate Juan Carlos Varela, who said there is no justification whatsoever for increasing the tax burden.

"President [Ricardo] Martinelli, with the silent accomplice of his candidate José Domingo Arias, is seeking to increase the tax burden on Panamanian families while he is wasting millions of dollars of public funds that belong to all Panamanians on excessive governmental television ads," Varela said.

According to Varela, the CD leaders support a "disproportionate" revaluation of residences "that will specifically affect the middle class." reports La Prensa
President Martinelli referred to the subject on Twitter, saying: "I have asked Minister Frank De Lima that he meet with different guilds in order to review the processes of revaluation."
Several private and independent groups have already started working on an alternative proposal, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Property Owners Association of Panama, the National Council of Developers and the National Council of Private Companies, among others.