Executive Branch dominates National Assembly

With the vast majority of the bills introduced to Panama’s National Assembly coming from The Executive Branch of the  government opposition legislators are crying foul.

According to a report by the National Assembly, 86 percent of the bills that were approved by the legislature since President Ricardo Martinelli took office, originated in the Executive Branch.

 They  include controversial measure like the move to expand the fiscal deficit, the mining reforms and the public procurement law liberalizing rules on no bid contracts, and laws limiting prosecution against police and imposing jail terms for blocking streets while demonstrating. 

Legislator Leandro Avila, reflected the views of others on the opposition benches saying the statistic shows that the current administration is failing to take a collective approach to the legislative process.

Democratic Change  legislator Fernando Carrillo defended the  Assembly timetable saying that there is no priority for initiatives presented by the Executive.