Electoral Tribunal responds to Martinelli aspersions
PANAMA’S Electoral Tribunal (TE) on Tuesday February 24 responded to the "doubts and aspersions "expressed by President Ricardo Martinelli andhis apokesman,about the company responsible for the security of the ballots in the May 4 election.
The TE said that Centauri Technologies, a company owned by PRD member Julio Escobar, has 12 years of working with the entity in electoral processes.
It said that it has appropriate oversight of the process that is covered under the General Election Plan. It also noted that the TE has been aware of Escobar's membership in the PRD, but this is the first time any question has been raised about the company's professional performance.
The TE also said that Martinelli's party, the CD, hired foreign consultants who were in the country earlier this month to review the TE computer systems and technology.Martinelli said Monday that he did not trust the computer security company because it was owned by a PRD member, reports La Prensa He also asked the TE to allow all parties to verify the results at the polling stations so that "there is no diversion of votes."
