Assembly opts out on corruption abroad law

PANAMA’S NATIONAL Assembly gave third reading on Friday, April 29, to a bill making amendments to the state procurement law but without prohibiting participation of companies convicted of corruption outside of Panama.

Former Attorney General and independent deputy, Ana Matilde Gómez described the bill as  “legislative mediocrity.”

She criticized her  colleagues for settling  for a law  better , compared to the existing one, but that in her opinion is far from the norm that the country deserves.

“We must give the world a message that in Panama corruption is not tolerated,” she said.

The bill was passed on Friday by 38 votes to six and five abstentions.

The full legislature rejected the proposal that sought to disallow  government contracts to foreign companies convicted abroad for acts of corruption.

Members of the ruling Panamenista  Party, Democratic Change (CD), the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) and MOLIRENA stuck to the line of the Executive to reject the proposed amendments seeking disqualification from contracting with the state, companies convicted abroad for corruption.

The project was finally approved in second debate at about 9:10 p.m.

Panameñista  deputy, Jose Luis Varela, praised the bill and explained why it did not bar  international companies with convictions for corruption.

“(If this list is made) we’re going to have the Directorate General of Public Procurement doing  judicial investigations in other countries.  …  companies will hire lawyers to contest tenders,” he said.

The third debate discussion lasted 34 minutes.