Politicians  seek  refuge in  Den of Thieves

The Central American Parliament (Parlacen), labeled  “A den of thieves” by ex-president Ricardo Martinelli continues to be a bolt hole for Panama politicians facing criminal charges with at least eight candidates, including Martinelli’s wife and sons named in different proceedings.

The list includes, reports Eudocio Pany Pérez, investigated in the El Gallero drug smuggling case, who was nominated by the Democratic Revolutionary Party,(PRD)

A total of 192 candidates, including principals and alternates, are competing for 40 seats in the moribund Parlacen, including current deputies of the National Assembly, and arty insiders linked to corruption scandals, reports La Prensa.

Independents
For the first time,  independent presidential candidates have the right to nominate candidates to Parlacen.  Both Ana Matilde Gómez and Marco Ameglio presented their lists. Ricardo Lombana did not nominate anyone. “Since I registered my pre-candidacy I decided that I would not nominate candidates for Parlacen. I do not believe in this institution, it does not bring benefits, it is used for impunity and squanders funds from Panamanians. If we are fed up with waste and corruption, we must act accordingly,

A deputy from Panama in the Parlacen has almost the same perks as the deputies of the National Assembly. Each one gets charges $4,200 a month and travel expenses and tickets to Guatemala, where the Parlacen has its headquarters

Prosecution shield
Like all candidates running for election, those seeking a seat in the Parlacen have electoral criminal jurisdiction (immunity from prosecution)  from thetime  moment  their candidacy is finalized to 15 days after the elections.

The PRD nominated Eudocio Pany Pérez as a substitute for Juan Pablo García Farinoni.

Perez is the current mayor of La Villa de Los Santos and appears in the judicial investigation known as El Gallero, a network allegedly engaged in drug trafficking.

Perez, a member of the PRD the National Executive Committee, was detained separated from the mayor’s post n for seven months and currently has an impediment to leaving the country.

The Cambio Democrático (CD) and Alianza  parties nominated the wife, Marta Linares and two sons of Ricardo Martinelli,

The CD enrolled Ricardo Martinelli Linares son of the ex-president as a substitute for Carlos Outten González, While the former first lady is a substitute for Eldis Sanchez.

The Alianza party, nominated Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, the second Martinelli son,  as a substitute for Héctor Valderrama.

The Martinelli Linares brothers were apprehended in November 2018, in Miami,  by US immigration authorities and later, were granted bail of $1 million each.

They also face requests for extradition and a red alert from Interpol, as part of two legal proceedings in Panama: in one for the  Odebrecht and Blue Apple corruption cases.  Their mother is also mentioned in the Blue Apple case.

Another one competing in the name of the CD is the former Minister of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Authority Giselle Burillo. She faces at least, two judicial processes..

The deputy Héctor Aparicio, reported to the Supreme Court for irregularities detected in the National Assembly is also on the CD list.

Kristelle Getzler, former Secretary of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of the Presidency and wife of ex-Finance Minister of Frank De Lima , was registered as a substitute for Uarren Beitía ,. Getzler is fingered in the Blue Apple case.

Lourdes Cortés, sister of the former Labor Minister Alma Cortés, (also under investigation) was nominated by Alianza.  She is being investigated for the alleged irregular collection of travel expenses of the Ministry of Labor for a trip to Geneva, Switzerland, in 2011.

There are two reserved spaces in Parlacen for outgoing President Juan Carlos Varela and the vice president.

Varela, who leaves office on June 30, says that he will not take possession of the seat,  nor will Vice president, Isabel de Saint-Malo.

In 2009, then president Martinelli processed the exit of Panama from Parlacen, but  the Supreme Court ruled the law unconstitutional.

When Once he left power, Martinelli became a Parlacen deputy but he resigned from in mid-June last year, a few days after being extradited from the US .