Goodies handout: tradition or misappropriation?

“Discretionary items” handed out by deputies are a form of misappropriation of public funds and should be banned says the Citizens Alliance for Justice.

Executive Director Magaly Castillo was reacting to “unfortunate statements by the Minister of Economy and Finance, [Frank de Lima], when he says that this is part of the Panamanian political tradition." 

"I'm not saying it's a good thing," he said on FOX Report but "our culture has always been that the voter sees  his deputy as the person who must help … and we see that many Members provide this service."
"This is tradition,? This is patronage that damages both Panama and democracy,” said Castillo.

The issue has been spotlighted by the high profile  distribution 30.000 hams costing $675,000 to voters in Chorillo by deputy Sergio Galvez who also sits as president of the National Assembly. Galvez has been re-elected for 21 years and has represented almost every political party.