Martinelli names new CD president on eve of arrest hearing

ON THE EVE of Panama’s Supreme Court plenary meeting to decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for former president Ricardo Martinelli, he still continues to pull the strings of the dwindling Democratic Change (CD) party he founded.

In a letter sent to the members of the national board, Martinelli, the nominal president has announced changes in the direction of the party.

Alma Cortés, current general secretary of the party, will now be President, a position held to date  by Romulo Roux.

“Based on Articles 11, 55 and 58 in the section 11 of our statute, I have decided to appoint as temporary charge of the legal representation of the party to the lawyer Alma Cortés, current general secretary of the party, as president, “said the letter, dated December 18, 2015.

He briefly thanked Roux for the time spent on the functions delegated to him

Martinelli said that this decision was adopted to define and take actions that cause the CD to remain “active, united and strengthened” in the current scenario in the country.