Lawyers sign electoral ethics pact
THE ELECTORAL ethics pact developed by the Catholic Church has been signed by the National Bar Association.
During the signing, on Thursday, November 28, Bishop José Luis Lacunza said that the document "is not against anyone." It has been signed by the PRD and Panamenista parties, but not by the CD.
On the contrary, Lacunza said the pact is a proposal in favor of respect, tolerance and proper moral behavior.
"Ethics are not imposed.Ethics are proposed and those who want to accept, accept. " he said.
He added that the Catholic Church, is not a body that imposes penalties.
"The most that we can manifest is a reproach," he said. "It is up to the citizenship to judge."
Lacunza recalled that the sole objective of the pact is to raise awareness among Panamanians their duties and rights as citizens.
"Voting is a right and a duty," recalled Lacunza at the same time emphasizing that citizens cannot escape their civic responsibilities, one of which is voting.
Representatives of the National Bar Association signed the pact in the presence of Panama Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa and Lacunza.
The National Bar Association is committed to ensuring a proper electoral process, the officials said.