Independent presidential runners bring new hope

The debut in the political arena of the candidatures for the free postulation has stumbled. On the one hand, aspiring candidates whose methods have turned out to be, at least, suspicious. On the other, the Electoral Tribunal (TE) has not always been up to the challenge, nor has it corresponded to the great effort made by those serious candidates who have decided to undertake politics without the platform and the protection of a party. However, the introduction of this new figure, made possible thanks to the latest electoral reforms, is to be celebrated with enthusiasm. The campaign for the collection of legitimate signatures has awakened more than one disappointed person from his apathy. and the number of endorsements achieved by some candidates – which in specific cases exceed the membership of the smallest parties – has shown that the electorate craved new options. This must be sufficient reason for the TE to turn to efficient, transparent and fair debugging and support work. Their treatment of these candidates must be equal to the effort made by the aspirants and, above all, of the expectations and hopes that hundreds of thousands of Panamanians have placed in them – hoyporhoy, LA PRENSA, Jan.8