Martinelli nixes 2014 -election bid but deputies push

The re-election of Ricardo Martinelli as President of Panama in the 2014 election is a “closed issue” he said on Wednesday September as deputies of his party moved to raise  the prospect

Vidal Garcia of the Democratic Change (CD) party is spearheading the campaign, and announced on Tuesday that a group of his peers will push the issue.

"I do not wish, and do not seek this and I ask as a favor to those who believe in it, not promote it," said Martinelli, in a statement from the Ministry of Communication.

Garcia said that he group had even studied options to call a referendum before the election. "We do not lose anything by trying," said Garcia, referring to the referendum so that the people can decide if they want Martinelli to be a candidate in 2014.
The deputy did not rule out the referendum proposal being submitted to Martinelli in the coming days said La Prensa.
Although the proposal was driven by the group of deputies ruling led by Garcia, the president accused the political opposition of "diverting attention".
"I appeal to those who support our governance to not fall into the game of political opposition that seeks to divert attention from the programs, projects and works that advances our management and that are positively changing the lives of thousands of Panamanians," said Martinelli.
He said in the statement that deputies should “concentrate on the actions we have to do to fulfill all the promises we made to the people and not let anyone or anything distract us from this mission.”