OFF THE CUFF: Salsa singer eyeing presidency

SALSA SINGER Rubén Blades is planning to return to Panama’s political arena, aiming to run as an independent presidential candidate in 2019. Theannouncement came during an interview on a local TV program Radar
 His re-emergence would come in 2017, two years before the General elections he said.”Yes, it will be as an independent,”
Heae said that “if I have health and argument” he would run for two reasons: “This would be my last space in terms of my energy … and I want to retire before trying to return the political scene in Panama.”
Blades headed Panama’s Tourism Authority (ATP) under PRD President Martin Torrijos (2004-2009 and in 1994 took a run at becpming president under the Papa Egoró movement.
Now, Blades is squarely at his career and has several projects reports La Prensa “My point is that in 2015 and 2016 is to do everything, to clear all my assignments, and in 2017, start to focus on politics,” he said.
Last week, Blades closed the cycle of talks at the Gabriel García Márquez Journalism Awards organized by New Latin American Journalism (FNPI) in Medellin, Colombia, from September 30 to 2 October 2.
During his spell as tourism boss, Blades was frequently criticized for appearing to use his post to promote his own career, including appearing in government sponsored commercials as the face (and voice) of Panama. He also traveled on performance tours while in office, which raises the question, should this item be filed under  news or entertainment.?