Presidential candidates promise to investigate Panama-Italy bribery charges

BOTH OPPOSITION presidential candidates have promised, if elected, to revisit the alleged bribery of Panama government officials by an Italian defense contractor.

Juan Carlos Navarro, Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD ), said on Tuesday, March 18 , the world today looks at Panama as a country in which there is no government transparency, legal certainty and judicial independence.

" Where are thepriceless public officials  , starting with the president of the Republic [ Ricardo Martinelli ]"  he said.

Navarro spoke at a press conference after the Italian Valter Lavítola was sent too trial for a case involving international corruption and the Panamanian government .
Lavítola , former director of the newspaper Avanti , and the ex-president of the Italian group Finmeccanica Paolo Pozzessere, were sent to trial , for "aggravated corruption.". The trial will begin on June 23 after the election, but before a new Panamanian president takes office in July.
" Today is a sad day for Panama ," added Navarro. He said in a release that Tuesday’s news was the latest in a series of unacceptable mistakes caused by the current government , which has led to the dishonoring of the country
Navarro said he  is committed to winning election and:" The next government will appoint an independent monitor ," with a blameless background.
He also questioned the work of the Attorney General Ana Belfon , who has said the case is closed ,andundertook to appoint an attorney who can fight corruption. He also proposed an audit of all government programs underMartinelli.
He added that if he came to power, that for “the good name of the country."he would create a new special prosecutor to investigate the "very serious " allegations of corruption . "
He called on the other presidential candidates Juan Carlos Varela, José Domingo Arias and Genaro López– to support a serious investigation of this scandal, because it is a national issue.

The presidential candidate for the People First alliance, Juan Carlos Varela , said afternoon through his Twitter account , which from the beginning he has spoken out on the Lavítola case from the beginning.
Varela also wrote "I have been clear: in my government, the Lavitola -Finmecannica case will be investigated by the relevant authorities."