The National Assembly Defines a New Balance of Power While Panama President Mulino Gives an Account

Panama: Panama will experience one of the most important political days of the year this Wednesday. While President José Raúl Mulino presents his report to the nation on his second year in office, the National Assembly will elect the new Board of Directors that will lead the Legislative Branch during this new term.  Both events will define the landscape between the Executive and Legislative branches in the coming months. The first will allow the Executive to assess the progress made and the challenges that remain, while the second will determine who controls the legislative agenda and the main decisions within the Assembly. 

With just hours to go before the vote, the scenario favors Representative Shirley Castañeda pictured above, whose candidacy has gained strength amidst the differences that have arisen between the opposition and independent blocs.  Disagreements within Vamos and the lack of a single candidate among independent groups have hindered the renewal of the alliance that, a year ago, allowed the Panameñista Jorge Herrera to prevail over Castañeda and assume the presidency of the Assembly. 

According to the emerging political landscape, the Panameñista Party may choose to abstain, while the Vamos bloc reached a consensus late Tuesday night with the Seguimos bloc to support Grace Hernández for president and Lenin Ulate and Augusto Palacios for vice president.  In that context, Shirley Castañeda above, although she has not been considered a consensus figure within the Legislature, could reach 40 votes if she receives the bloc support of the 12 deputies of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), the 15 of Realizando Metas (RM), the 8 deputies of Democratic Change (CD) and the 5 members of the Mixed caucus. 

If that scenario materializes, the alliance would also promote Congressman Orlando Carrasquilla, of Democratic Change, for the first vice presidency and Joan Guevara for the second vice presidency. The composition of the Board of Directors will also have a direct impact on the integration of the 15 standing committees, considered the core of legislative work, since they discuss and issue rulings on bills before they reach the plenary session. 

The election takes on special significance because President Mulino will present his report to the nation hours later, in which he is expected to give an account of his two years in government and outline the priorities for the second half of his term.  Thus, the day will not only test the majorities within the National Assembly, but will also allow us to measure the level of governance that the Executive will have to promote its legislative agenda during the next year.