Ex-president returns to world stage in new role
IN HIS GLORY days as president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli enjoyed strutting the world stage and portraying himself as the leader of a cabinet of ”businessmen” bringing enlightment to the country and fast tracking it away from third world status.
Monday’s decision of the Supreme Court to order his arrest has gained him more headlines around the planet than he ever earned during his record breaking globe hopping trips, but from the lead supertar role under the spotlights he is now cast as the villain and has even been described as a”coward” by one of the CD deputies.
From the United States to the European Union, Bangladesh to India, Qatar, to Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand to Colombia, Brazil and Mexico and the BBC website , details are published of the illegal spying charges and other outanding cases where he is accused of corruption and stealing from the public purse.
His Till Eulenspiegel style bleatings about political persecution got little attention. They have been overplayed by too many other leaders when the game is up.
Only his his well paid lawyers and a shrinking band of CD members s, are repeating the mantra, and with signs of rebellion within the National Assembly caucus over his latest diktat, he may soon, like Hitler before the fall of Berlin, be moving imaginery battalions into position
If, in due course justice prevails over the stalling tactics of his battalion of lawyers and an Interpol red alert is issued, there will be few corners of the world where he can hide in the shadows.
