16 vie for Social Security hot seat

SIXTEEN CANDIDATES have put their names forward to fill the hot seat of Director of Social Security (CSS) whose  previous boss was forced to resign and his predecessor  is facing multiple criminal charges including receiving bribes

The board will decide which candidate will be recommended to President Juan Carlos Varela, who must make the appointment.

The application period closed Friday Feb. 3 and the investigation  of applicants began on Monday.

On Jan. 11, the board modified the rules for the election of the director of the entity: Applicants must now verify that they comply with the requirements established by law, such as providing proof they are Panamanian.

Another of the changes has to do with the qualification that is granted during the evaluation process.

Now the ad hoc selection commission will represent 50 percent of the weight, and the remaining 50 percent is in the hands of the board.

Before, the commission accounted for 60 percent of the rating.

Dr. Rubén Darío López assumed the management of Social Security after the pressured resignation of Estivenson Girón on Dec. 22, 2016 after numerous criticisms of his management were reported.