Panama needs vigorous fight against corruption – Transparency International

The Libertad Ciudadana Foundation, the Panamanian chapter of Transparency International, affirmed that the naming of former President Ricardo Martinelli “for his participation in acts of significant corruption” is a clear consequence of the ethical degradation in which the country has fallen.

“The withdrawal of the visa to the former president and his family for acts of corruption is just a warning that our common home needs a vigorous fight on the part of all against corruption,” a statement said.

On Wednesday, January 25, the US Department of State announced the measure, citing Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

At the same time, the United States ambassador to Panama, Maricarmen Aponte, announced in another statement that “this will not be our last designation in Panama.”

The position of the US government was given hours after the arrival in Panama of the brothers Ricardo and Luis Martinelli Linares, sons of the former president, after serving a prison sentence in the United States, after confessing that they laundered up to $28 million in bribes from Odebrecht.

The reactions have not been long in coming reports La Prensa The former president of the Chamber of Commerce, José Ramón Icaza Clément, said that “those who, by corrupting themselves and corrupting the institutions from power, betray the people who trusted them.”

“The new Panama cannot be built without honest management. The Martinelli case is the turning point of a dark past and a bright future”.

The president of the Panameñista Party, José Isabel Blandón, commented that the United States took this measure, but the Panamanian justice system has taken years to make decisions.

On Thursday, Martinelli on Twitter referred to the reunion with his children and said that he will defend his innocence.

“Thankful to God for allowing my family to be reunited. It was an emotionally charged moment. Now I am preparing to meet with my lawyers and advisers to evaluate the latest facts. I have always been clear; I will defend my innocence, my rights, and guarantees wherever it is”.

The former first lady, Marta de Martinelli, thanked the messages of support.

“I want to thank so many people who sent us messages of support and empathy. I love you so much! As a family we have gone through very sad and difficult moments, irreparable. I reproach people who wanted to take advantage of other people’s pain. Grateful to God for his infinite mercy.”