Martinelli joins den of thieves and gains immunity

RICARDO MARTINELLI, is now a fully fledged member of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen), the body that he has labeled a “den of thieves.”

The swearing in took plsce in Guatemals at a poorly attended rush meeting   less than 24 hours after leaving office as president..

The ceremony  was conducted  by Parlacen President Paula Rodrí¬guez, who convened a special meeting for the purpose.

Not in attendance was Vice President Dorindo Cortéz, of Panama, a critic of the decision to allow Martinelli to join so soon after leaving office.

Cortéz said that 70 percent of the members of the group’s Board of Directors were not present..
“I don’t know what trouble Mr. Martinelli is in,” he said.

In contrast, Honduras President Porfirio Lobo, who left office in January, has not been sworn in. Former El Salvador President Mauricio Funes left office June 1 and took possession last week.
The news was confirmed through the Paralcen Twitter account and its web site.
Martinelli will now have immunity from regular prosecution of any crimes committed while in office. He can be tried by the Supreme Court, but he appointed five of the nine members. Additionally, strict guidelines for investigations of this type were passed by the Martinelli administration, including a two-month time limit on investigations.
He has been a constant critic of Parlacen, and tried to remove Panama from the group in 2009 shortly after taking office, saying it had no value to the country. That effort was blocked by the Supreme Court.
He also said that Parlacen , which Panama joined in 1994 was “ineffective and expensive.”