Panama’s Lombana Visits Martinelli in Colombia.  The ‘Ricardo Albertos’ are Together.

That two antagonistic figures are drawing closer amidst the reconfiguration of the political and electoral landscape is not surprising, given that Panama has several precedents in this regard: the PRD with the Christian Democrats in 2005; Democratic Change with the Panameñista Party in 2019; Martín Torrijos and Mayer Mizrachi with the Popular Party in 2024. 

But when that rapprochement is between Ricardo Martinelli and Ricardo Lombana, the news shakes the political landscape. Because it is not simply a friendship that, until recently, would have seemed impossible, but an understanding that could lead to an alliance unthinkable until now. And it is precisely there that surprise turns to astonishment: those who for years presented themselves as irreconcilable adversaries now seem to be finding common ground where before there was only confrontation. 

“The most popular figure in Panama is Ricardo Martinelli pictured above… Ricardo is popular due to the success of his administration. Given that reality, if I were @RicardoLombanaG, I would seek to have some level of dialogue with that person. And yes, if I were @rmartinelli, I would also like to have a conversation with the person who finished second in the elections—a conversation about issues facing the country,” maintains Deputy @camachocastro.

Moca Confirms Lombana’s Visit to Martinelli, But Denies an Alliance.

‘This meeting does not constitute a political agreement or any electoral alliance for the 2029 elections,’ the political group said in a statement. The Another Way Movement (Moca) confirmed that the meeting in Colombia between its president Ricardo Lombana and the former president of the Republic, Ricardo Martinelli, did take place and that both have held talks, although it denied, for the moment, a political agreement or electoral alliance for the May 2029 tournament.  “This meeting does not constitute a political agreement or any electoral alliance for the 2029 elections,” the political group stated in a press release signed by its general secretary, Mario Pinzón.  “Listening is not making deals,” the statement adds, noting that Lombana will continue to engage in dialogue with other political actors “without compromising the values ​​and principles” of the movement.  For now, Lombana and Martinelli have remained silent. 

Ricardo Lombana, former presidential candidate for the Another Path Movement

Moca explained that Lombana is holding talks with the presidents of other political parties and with former presidents of the Republic, as part of his “strategy” in the face of the electoral reform process being discussed in the National Assembly.  It does not specify who those parties and former presidents are.  The group claims to have information about a strategy that, in their view, puts the transparency of the 2029 elections at risk.  For example, it questions the fact that the project reforming the Electoral Code proposes to increase the number of supporters required to register new parties and independent candidates, from 2% to 3%.  It questions the distribution of electoral financing, with 93% for parties and 7% for independent candidates; and the proposal to eliminate the National Commission for Electoral Reforms (CNRE) as a permanent space for participation.  The party reiterated that its stance on corruption and judicial decisions remains unchanged. “Moca’s only alliance is with the Panamanian people,” it stated.  No response from Lombana as yet.