This morning, the majority of the extraordinary plenary session of the Supreme Court authorized the nomination of Mulino, who replaced former president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) in that popularly elected position, sentenced to over 10 years in prison for money laundering in the New Case Business and since February 7, he has been granted asylum in the Nicaraguan embassy in this capital.
In this way, in a race against time, the CSJ supported Mulino, favorite in the polls for those Sunday votes, so that he would be one of the seven candidates for the Palacio de las Garzas (seat of the Executive) that appear on the ballot.
Last March, the Court admitted an unconstitutional lawsuit filed by lawyer Karisma Karamañites, based on the fact that Mulino does not have a candidate for vice president, which violates constitutional articles, and that he was not elected in primaries by the respective awnings.
Among the first reactions, former president Martin Torrijos (2004-2009) and now champion of the Popular Party for a new five-year term, pointed out that the verdict “seems more attached to political pacts of self-protection and impunity than to law.”
Also the candidate of Cambio Democrático and Partido Panameñista, Rómulo Roux, said that the pact for impunity deployed by the former Minister of Security of Martinelli with the deputy Benicio Robinson and the also presidential candidate José Gabriel Carrizo, of the ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party, is evident (PRD).
Meanwhile, economist and social activist Maribel Gordón, independent presidential candidate, indicated that the process has been plagued by irregularities, but the ruling points to an advertising agenda, which should not have been.
Ricardo Lombana, for the Other Path Movement (Moca), also maintained on the social network
Among other reactions, the popular Panamanian singer-songwriter and musician Rubén Blades indicated that the Court was wrong, Mulino should have been disqualified, and added that this ruling is due to pressures beyond democracy and the people. “This ruling must be tragic for every decent citizen in Panama,” remarked the author of Patria, Pedro Navaja, Ligia Elena and Searching for America, among other popular songs.
“If next May 5 our electorate chooses as its president and representative the figurehead of a person declared corrupt in a free election, then put a sign on our Republic that says: For sale, Portable Country and let’s stop pretending to be patriots,” he remarked.
On May 5, three million four thousand 83 Panamanians are summoned to decide at the polls the new president and vice president of the country, 20 deputies to the Central American Parliament and 71 deputies to the National Assembly. With the vote, they will also elect 81 mayors, 701 township representatives and 11 councilors, all with their respective substitutes for the period from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2029.
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