Arias funeral got $175,000 hand out from President

President , Ricardo Martinelli, gave$175,462 from his "discretionary" funds for providing flowers and  organizing the state funeral of  three-time president Arnulfo Arias Madrid. 

The revelation came  in  the latest quarterly report of the Presidency, which covers expenditures made between October and December 2011.

The money  paid by the President covered, catering, flowers , the dais, sound and other decorating services.

Asked about the payments former president Mireya Moscoso, widow of Arias Madrid, said that because it was a state funeral, the government made it an  official protocol. She said that the Arias Foundation financed the construction of the mausoleum and transportation of mourners, and requested that media does not "attack" on the issue. "They can attack with whatever, but not with Dr. Arias, who gave so much to Panama," she said.

Before the event, which took place on  January 6-7, the ex president said that everything would be funded by donations.

In October 2009, just months after coming to power, Ricardo Martinelli, donated expenses of $24,000 for the funeral of former President Guillermo Endara, for $ 24,000, $ 151,000 less than for  Arias Madrid. 

In  statements in the past Martinelli promised to reduce discretionary payments.

In an interview with La Prensa 2007:

"We must reduce to the necessary items, not to pay a fellow party operations, aircraft repair or Pharaonic trips."

In an interview with La Prensa 2008

"You have to make cuts in all unnecessary expenses, such as discretionary funds, funds of the Office of the First Lady, FIS, well … You have to cut those unnecessary luxuries that exist in the government."

"The discretionary items will be reduced and converted into a special fund for emergencies and disasters" A promise  included in government planning

The only president who did not disburse discretionary funds since  the dictatorship was President Guillermo Endara.

Figures published by La Prensa show  :Ernesto Perez Balladares spent $25.3 million,($5 million a year) Mireya Moscoso $23.2 million ($4.6 million a year), Martin Torrillos $22.3 million (4.4 million a year). President  Martinelli has spent $19.1 million to date at a rate of $7.5 million a year.