The Martinelli Boys, Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Nominations in the May 5 Elections

Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, sons of former president Ricardo Martinelli, were nominated for various positions during the May 5 elections.  The Martinelli boys are now members of Parlacen.  Each one ran for two elected positions through the platforms provided to them by the Realizing Goals (RM) and Alianza parties.  Ricardo Alberto competed as a candidate for substitute deputy for RM and Alianza in the 9-2. In that electoral circuit are the districts of Las Palmas, Soná and La Mesa, in the province of Veraguas. The main candidate is Tomás Benavides.  Benavides was elected as a deputy, with which Martinelli’s eldest son was also chosen as a substitute.  In addition, Ricardo Alberto was nominated by RM as Carlos Outten’s substitute deputy to the Central American Parliament (Parlacen).  As will be remembered, both figures currently occupy a seat in this international organization.  Although the Electoral Tribunal has not provided the official list of candidates who will reach Parlacen, unofficially the RM party would have nine deputies for that regional entity.  That means that both Outten and Martinelli’s son will once again have a seat in Parlacen, since they appear as number one on the list of those nominated by the RM party. It is important to remember that, although citizens do not vote directly to elect the deputies of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen), the process to designate the country’s representatives in this regional institution is based on an equitable distribution of seats between political parties and the independent candidates.  According to data provided by the Electoral Tribunal (TE), a total of 20 seats are assigned taking into account the percentage of votes obtained by each political party and independent candidate during the elections.  Luis Enrique Martinelli competed as a substitute deputy for José Muñoz Molina in circuit 8-6, which covers the townships of Tocumen, 24 de Diciembre, Pacora, Las Garzas and San Martín, among others.  Muñoz is the president of the Alianza party and is currently a representative of the town of Tocumen. He was president of the National Assembly during Martinelli’s presidency (2009-2014).  However, Muñoz was not elected as a representative for that area of ​​the Panama district, which means that Martinelli’s youngest son was not chosen either.  However, Luis Enrique was nominated by the RM party as a candidate for substitute deputy Giselle Burillo in Parlacen and, by appearing second on the list, everything indicates that they obtained a seat in the international organization. At this moment, Martinelli and Burillo are Parlacen deputies.