The Departure of 2 Panamanian Vamos Deputies: Budget and Discipline
A transfer of $4.2 million without debate in the Budget Committee causes the departure of two deputies and alters the balance of power of Vamos. With the departure of Manuel Samaniego and Neftalí Zamora from the Vamos party, this group is left with 15 deputies.
Deputies Manuel Samaniego and Neftalí Zamora resigned from the independent Vamos caucus in the Panamanian National Assembly. Their departure occurred after the coalition suspended them over their support for budget transfers (traslados de partida) that increased the Assembly’s budget, which the Vamos coalition viewed as a lack of commitment to financial transparency.
Both deputies rejected the coalition’s assertions and stated their independence of criteria is non-negotiable, noting that the budget transfers were necessary to fulfill operational obligations like payroll. It was only a matter of time. The departure of Manuel Samaniego and Neftalí Zamora from the Vamos bloc was something that was anticipated within the walls of the National Assembly. Neither of them questioned Jorge Herrera last February and May, when, as president of the Assembly, he went to the commission to justify the funds for the payrolls.
