Panama’s Comptroller Meets with the President of the Assembly and the Vamos Deputies
Pictured below is Anel Flores, Comptroller of the Republic, and Jorge Herrera, President of the Assembly.
Comptroller Anel Flores has reached out to the National Assembly amid the crisis caused by the Comptroller’s Office unilaterally and without consultation, affecting 43 legislators who are on unpaid leave. The meeting, which took place this afternoon at the Comptroller’s Office, was attended by the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Herrera, and the deputies Luis Duke – deputy head of the independent bloc – and Augusto Palacios, from Vamos. Roberto Zúñiga, head of the Vamos party, participated in the meeting and announced that the comptroller informed them that he would cancel the measure. Based on reports from early 2025 and 2026, Panama’s Comptroller General, Anel “Bolo” Flores, has been involved in several major controversies and political scandals:
- “Bottle” Scandal and Payroll Conflict (April 2025): Flores caused a major stir by ordering that National Assembly officials be paid by check rather than electronic transfer. He claimed this was necessary to audit 001, 002, and 172 forms to identify “bottles” (officials who get paid without working), which caused a direct confrontation with Assembly President Dana Castañeda.
- Obstructing Anti-Corruption Investigations (April 2026): Flores faced intense criticism for disrupting a meeting between the Public Prosecutor’s Office and auditors who were investigating alleged illicit enrichment by former Vice President José Gabriel Carrizo. He was accused of interrupting the interrogation and halting the signing of statements, leading to allegations of “overstepping functions” and “abuse of power”.
- Political Pressure on Deputies (April 2026): Flores was accused of using his position to pressure legislators, particularly by withholding payments for staff working with the independent Vamos bloc, which led to accusations of “selective persecution”.
- Port Lawsuits and Diplomatic Strain (2025-2026): Flores filed lawsuits to annul the contract for Panama Ports Company (a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison), alleging a $1.3 billion loss to the state. This action caused a significant dispute, affecting the sale of the port business to a US-led consortium and creating a diplomatic issue between Panama, China, and the US.
These actions have caused intense friction between the Comptroller’s Office, the National Assembly, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
