Business leaders negate Varela referendum ploy

Panama’s Chamber of Commerce has added its voice to the growing opposition to  President Varela’s plan to tack-on to upcoming election ballots a referendum on a constituent assembly.

On Sunday the Chamber said there is not enough time to educate voters on the issue and the Constitution of the country should be made through two continuous legislatures (in the National Assembly) “as a less complex route”, instead of introducing a fifth ballot as proposed by the Executive Body.

The business group said  that Varela’s proposal will be the prerogative of the next president to call for public consultations he deems appropriate

On January 2, Varela, in his final speech to the Nation in the National Assembly proposed the inclusion of the extra ballot in the  May elections as a mechanism to reform the Constitution.

The same day, Varela personally delivered his request to the magistrates of the Electoral Tribunal, to make valid his campaign promise to introduce constitutional reforms.

“We will be delivering this day to the magistrates of the Electoral Tribunal this note by which I consult the feasibility of including a fifth ballot for the people to decide if the necessary constitutional reforms are made through a parallel constituent assembly, or through traditional reforms through two assemblies, “said  Varela

However, the Chamber of Commerce of Panama believes that including a fifth ballot requires education on what it implies and the possible repercussions that would arise.

“With just four months to go before the general elections, we believe that we do not have the necessary time for this, and at the moment, the Electoral Tribunal must concentrate on the planning, development, and execution of elections in peace and transparency,” said  Chamber president Gabriel Barletta.

Barletta said that with each new electoral tournament, Panama must move towards structural and organic modernization.

“This depends, on the vision of the future of those who aspire to conduct national affairs, and of their capacity as statesmen to carry, from promises to practice, their electoral offers.”.

On May 5, 2019, Panama will have general elections to elect the president and vice president of the country, 71 deputies of the National Assembly, 20 deputies of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen), 75 mayors and 620 corregimiento representatives.