Bullets will talk comment shocks politicos

A TWEET from  former president Ernesto  Perez Balladares to exiled ex-president Ricardo Martinelli saying: , “ If the capacity for dialogue is lost, bullets will talk”  sent shock waves through political circles on the weekend

The Tweets were part of a dialogue between the two previous leaders following allegations by Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) Deputy,  Elias Castillo, that they were seeking to take control of the National Assembly . He told La Estrella de Panama, that the PRD ex-president had held telephone conversations with Martinelli, with a view to taking political control of the Assembly from July 1, when the administrative policy of the legislature is renewed.

Martinelli is the current chairman of the Democratic Change (CD) Party, which has 25 deputies in the National Assembly, and the PRD has 26 seats out o f a total of 71 deputies.

Initially Perez Balladares denied the contact but a Facebook posting followed in which he attempted to explain a previous meetings in a seafood restaurant when Martinelli was president.  “Journalists interviewed me immediately afterwards and I answered their questions: A handshake and a cigarette is not denied to anyone”

“Recently, he ate lunch at the same restaurant with Juan Carlos Navarro and afterwards greet a group of three friends who were having lunch at another table. Juan Carlos Tapia, Sidney Sitton and Rafael Barcenas As expected, the short conversation turned to political and sometime issues, without a request, Siydney approached me and said . ‘Chairman, President Martinelli wants to say hello’ I took the call and the exchange would be 30 seconds: ‘hello, howare you  Hey Toro, I had nothing to do with what they did to you…. look Ricardo.. I know who did it and why. We should see meet personally. it’s hard because you do not come to Panama and I am not going to the  USA. Laughter. [his US Visa was suspended after he left office] I wish I could reach agreement on opposition in the Assembly. Yes, hopefully’ “

His post went on to comment on  opposition deputies negotiating in the Assembly and offering their votes in support of the ruling party in  return for positions on government committees.

Meanwhile the infighting over who will become president of the Assembly is set to resume Monday, June 13