OPINION: Collective political suicide

Finally, a study has been carried out on the political culture of Panamanians. The results corroborate much of what we already know or intuit since it is enough to look at the preferences of the electorate when electing their government representatives. The government reflects, precisely, the great electoral universe and what we see is not very different from what the results of this study show, that is to say, that among Panamanian voters, clientelism, the “what’s for me” and the lack of values, principles and an ideology is what reigns. Electoral politics for Panamanians is nothing more than a transaction —which can be called commercial—, in which the raw material that is for sale is the vote, in exchange for food, construction materials, or an appointment, while the “donors” are “investors” who hope that the candidates they supported will return the favor by awarding contracts or concessions; the appointment to high positions, inside or outside the country, or the issuance of laws from which they can take financial advantage to the detriment of the majorities. What to do in the face of collective political suicide? It is a question that all voters must ask ourselves from now on.  – LA PRENSA, Nov. 20.