Martinelli calls for campaign tolerance and respect

PANAMA’S PRESIDENT, Ricardo Martinelli has called for all participants in the May 2014 elections to campaign in a climate of tolerance, respect and peace.

The president whose acerbic tweets, revelations and threats of more, have earned him condemnation from civil activists, made the remark on Wednesday, December 4 .during the ceremony in which the Electoral Tribunal ( TE) officially convened the next vote.

 "We know that all candidates running for elected office do so with the strong desire to win, but only one can win, and that is why I urge everyone , winners and losers, to recognize and accept the other 's triumph,” he said .

TE magistrate  Heriberto Araúz   added his plea to the political combatants asking them  to raise the level of discourse “avoiding defamatory, hateful personal attacks on the adversaries and their families or through dirty propaganda" .

The elections will cost $125.5 million , including $69.8 million state subsidy to political parties and $55.7 million to organize the process.