Presidents discretionary spending drops

PRESIDENT Juan Carlos Varela spent $766,150 in discretionary funds during the first quarter of 2015.

That is a significant drop from the final quarter of 2014, when he spent $3.6 million, and slightly ahead of his first three months in office, when he spent $566,000 reports La Prensa.

He has spent a total of $4.9 million in nine months.

A report from the Ministry of the Presidency indicates that the largest expenditure this year was for sponsorship of cultural and sports activities: $242,000. 

He spent $177,000 in disaster mitigation and $168,000 in medical expenses. The president also “donated” $25,000 to the Catholic Church.

One of the largest expenses was in March, when he paid $119,960 for a heart surgery for a child.

PREVIOUS SPENDERS

According to a report of the Ministry of the Presidency, former President Ricardo Martinelli spent $51 million in five years, while Mireya Moscoso (1999-2004) used $23 million. Martín Torrijos (2004-2009) spent $22.3 million and Ernesto Pérez Balladares (1994-1999) used $25.3 million.