OPINION: Twisting electoral law to dodge judgement

In 1989, candidates for election posts by the ADO-Civilista faced the risk of death, torture, exile and judicial rigged processes. The events that occurred in the twilight of the military dictatorship are a reminder of the true value and meaning of the electoral criminal law

This institution creates a temporary privilege that allows candidates to be protected against arbitrary detention. That is the original meaning of this jurisdiction. However, in Panama, the electoral criminal jurisdiction has been granted not only to candidates in the general elections but also in the primary elections and other internal processes of the political parties. In addition, the appraisals include people who are not even candidates

If it has not been previously lifted, this jurisdiction prevents the carrying out of investigations, as well as other judicial proceedings. The election reforms of 2017 – agreed by the National Assembly benches- would have been the perfect scenario to close the doors to impunity. It seems that now they are used more to dodge high-profile corruption cases than to compete in the 2019 elections. – LA PRENSA-. Oct 9.