Challenge to ex-ruler’s mayoralty bid ok’d

Ex-president Ricardo Martinelli’s ambition to run for mayor of Panama City in the May 5 election took a body blow on Thursday, March 14. And could add to the anxiety and depression problems that led him to court-ordered psychiatric evaluation.

While he was with forensic psychiatrists The  Electoral Tribunal (TE) admitted the challenges filed by   Jorge Hernán Rubio and Daniel Ramírez Bal, against his candidacies for the Mayor’s Office and deputy of the 8-8 circuit.

The ruling a decision of the Fifth Electoral Court of February 27, which rejected the challenges presented by Rubio as unfounded.

TE Judges Eduardo Valdés and Alfredo Juncá voted in favor of the admission; Mirta Varela de Durá, substitute for the magistrate Heriberto Araúz, saved her vote.

The basis for the challenges is the electoral residence of the former president, who has been held in the El Renacer Prison since June 11 while he is being tried for illegal wiretapping and embezzlement.

Rubio argued that the applications do not comply with the provisions of numeral 5 of article 290 of the Electoral Code,  which requires the candidate to reside in that district at least one year before the election. “Allowing applications is to circumvent the right of voters,” he said.