Differing views on future of $250 million helicopters

THE FUTURE OF the helicopters and radars purchased from the Italian defense conglomerate Finemeccanica has become a tug of war between the three main presidential candidates.

The Panamanian Party presidential candidate Juan Carlos Varela, said Sunday,March 30 that if he reaches the Presidency will keep the helicopters.

Speaking in his birthplace Pesé, Herrera, Varela said that when he was part of the Martinelli cabinet he, in effect, endorsed the agreement between Panama and Finmeccanica . However, he made it clear that he was never in favor of what was being charged for this purchase "[$250 million].
Recently, PRD presidential candidate Juan Carlos Navarro, said that he would return the helicopters, radars and digital maps purchased from the Italian company, if he wins in the May 4 elections.
Meanwhile corruption cases against Finmeccanica case involving Panama and India are before the Italian courts. The Indian government cancelled their contract with Finmecannica and returned the defense items when corruption allegations first surfaced. Panama’s government has maintained that there was no corruption and the Attorney General has shut down further investigation.
What happens in the Italian courts could still be the deciding factors in the future of the helicopters
According to public information, Finmeccanica sold to Panama in 2011 a total of six helicopters, 19 radars and digital country maps for national security work.
Al though promising to keep the helicopters Varela noted that if he succeeds in election, he will have an “honest government “of national unity and consensus, which will address the problems that affect people, and that mainly will abandon confrontation.”We will continue with the work of government with transparency," he said.
According to polls, whoever wins the election will be faced with a population of over 60% who voted for another candidate.