“Don’t stop dreaming big” Martinelli Urges Panamanians Before his Transfer to Nicaragua

Everything is ready for former President Ricardo Martinelli to travel today, Monday, March 31, after noon to Nicaragua, departing from Albrook in his private jet, confirmed Roniel Ortiz, Martinelli ‘s lawyer, upon his arrival at the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama .  “He’s chosen the legal team that will support him. We’re going to settle in. He has his general and diplomatic passports. The law says he must have a diplomatic passport for being the president of a political party,” Ortiz commented.  He added that “right now, the issue is traveling to Nicaragua, where he was granted territorial asylum. This asylum changed from diplomatic to territorial so he can be free. Everything is on track for travel to Nicaragua. From here, we’re going to Albrook, where the plane is, and from there, we’re going to Nicaragua.”  Luis Eduardo Camacho, spokesman for former President Ricardo Martinelli, confirmed that the former president will travel to Nicaragua after noon.  “He’s going to leave on his private plane, which is at an airport, as everyone knows, after noon. He’s leaving here from the Embassy accompanied by the ambassador; she must go. If not, a representative from the Embassy will go. But I understand that she’s the one who’s going to accompany former President Martinelli, not only on his departure from here, but on the flight to Nicaragua. He’s going to leave in a diplomatic vehicle,” Camacho said.

In a short video, the former president reminisced about moments from his administration and wrote that he’ll be back soon.  “I hope you carry me in your hearts, as I carry you in mine,” the former president continued in an audiovisual presentation that showed emblematic works of his administration.  There was the subway, as well as emotional scenes from his time as president and one in which he is seen with his mother, who died three years ago. The former president said he will always be close to the Panamanians, “walking in the shoes of the people,” the motto that always identified him and that led him to victory in the 2009 elections, with 60% of the vote. There have been multiple reactions since Martinelli posted his message early this Sunday, March 30. 

It’s striking that all the messages were supportive of the former president and expressed solidarity, as they consider the legal proceedings against him unfair, forcing him to leave the country after a year of asylum in the Nicaraguan embassy. “Anyone makes mistakes, but the injustice committed against you today makes it even clearer how rotten the justice system is in Panama,” wrote Ana Raquel, a follower.  “We’re going to miss the only one who truly cared about the people,” Keshia wrote, while Allan Bultron added that “the millionaires gave you hell because you made them pay their taxes, but I’m coming back and voting for you.” 

Several social media users hailed Martinelli as the best president Panama has ever had, including Karelis Sánchez, who emphasized that the politician was the only one who could run two terms and “win as many times as he did, because the people love you! As I once told you, God has the last word. This isn’t over; God is with you. Never forget that,” wrote Karelis, whose account has more than 10,000 followers and 700 posts.  “From very close by, we’ll be back soon,” Martinelli finally wrote to his thousands of followers. Martinelli will depart for Nicaragua from the Albrook Airport.