Disaffected CD members join opposition

A group of circuit leaders of Democratic Change (CD) has decided to support the presidential candidacy of the opposition PRD candidate Juan Carlos Navarro.

They reached the decision after a meeting of the National Movement Political Directorate CD Bases and circuital leaders around the country.

Ivan Montalvo, a member of that group of leaders, stated that his movement does not arise, specifically to support the candidacy of Navarro, but by an internal struggle for the democratization of the CD party. Reports La Prensa
"Given the events of the lack of democracy and poor participation of the spaces that are given to the grassroots people, we have opted to support the candidacy of Navarro," he said.
Montalvo , who is a licensed official in the Ministry of Social Development, criticized the CD going into the campaign with 47 electoral candidates for deputies , who were " finger positions “.[favored]
Most of these members are defectors who have come from other parties.” According to the dissident, these candidates “were fingered against the popular will. No primaries for choosing them were made and we have no commitment to them. We do not feel committed to that election bid. "
Regarding the nomination of Secretary of State Communication, Luis Eduardo Camacho, to the Central American Parliament (Parlacen ) Montalvo said he is "a newcomer to the game.”
“He has now been nominated for the Central American Parliament, leaving aside all our candidate base and important leaders at national level who are not given to participation in elected office.”
MARTINELLI RESPONSIBLE
Asked who was responsible for the situation Montalvo responded that the president of the CD and of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli.
“The President is responsible for all this, but behind it there is a cabal of crooks and opportunists who directed the President to commit the series of errors," he said.
He said that "This clique is the boss, and chooses and remove candidates. People who have no political career in the game. There are [Joseph] Muñoz, [ Carlos ] Afu , Sergio Gálvez and Camacho. they are the ones who decide the fate of more than half a million people who are enrolled in the party. "
Gerardo Solis, vice presidential candidate for the Democratic Revolutionary Party , said that the group to which Montalvo belongs, publicly expressed support for Navarro in a ceremony held Sunday night at the Panama Hotel.