Squabble over changes to “anti-Varela” law.

DEPUTIES from the Panameñista and PRD parties clashed during the first debate of a draft bill to amend the 2013 “anti-Varela” law in the National Assembly’s Commission of Economy and Finance.
The struggle began when Panameñista Deputy Gabriel Soto informed PRD Deputy Raúl Pineda that the proposal was not going to be approved in the the same”unilateral” way as when the Assembly passed the original law, which amended taxes collected on alcoholic beverages reports La Prensa.
It was called the “anti-Varela” law because current President Juan Carlos Varela’s family business is alcohol production.
When Pineda replied, it began a series of accusations. PRD Deputy Crispiano Adames said that he would not vote for the initiative, despite the fact that it was presented by PRD Deputy León Rubén.
When the original law was passed, it was widely seen as a Martinelli motivated direct attack on Varela, who at the time was a leader of the opposition.