Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Panama City, June 5.- The former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) became the first presidential candidate for the 2024 general elections, by winning the primaries of the Realizing Goals Party, which he founded in 2021.
With more than 98 percent of the 655 scrutinized tables, the ex-governor was superior with almost 97 percent, compared to the other three candidates (Rubén Darío Campos, David Ochy and Francisco Ameglio), which for some was a well-known victory of beforehand in an election with low participation: less than 25 percent of some 237 thousand 700 members called to the polls.
Like 12 other defendants, Martinelli awaits the opinion of the Judicial Branch in the New Business case, for money laundering on the purchase in 2010 of a conglomerate of Panama America newspapers with public funds.
After knowing the preliminary results of the consultation this Sunday, in an angry speech before the bases at the El Panama hotel, the billionaire said that the trial is part of the political persecution of his adversaries in the Executive that has lasted almost 10 years, but without the expected results.
"They're going to have to kill me!" the politician said visibly moved in his proclamation appearance as a candidate for a second term and asked the Electoral Tribunal and international observers to enforce democracy, electoral criminal jurisdiction and the will popular.
He also lashed out at the current administration and other parties that think more about future elections than about the future of the new generations of Panamanians, eager for better jobs, economic development, decent wages, quality education and health, for the enjoyment of the families, which he promised to reach the presidential chair next year.
Martinelli explained that so far he leads all the polls on the will to vote and that is why he is the victim of a political trial and rigged with the complicity of the Government and the Supreme Court of Justice.
Alluding to candidates from other political organizations for the Palacio de las Garzas (headquarters of the Executive), such as the current vice president, José Gabriel Carrizo, of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), said that they use the media to create storms of fallacies, tall tales, lies, manipulating information to prevent him from ruling again.
The Realizing Goals Party will hold a second stage of the primaries on July 2 to elect its candidates for other positions (deputies, mayors, and corregimiento representatives, among others).
On May 5, 2024, Panamanians will 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 (parliament).
Also with the vote they will decide on 81 mayors, 701 corregimiento representatives and 11 councilors, all with their respective substitutes, for the period of the 1st. from July 2024 to June 30, 2029. (Text and photo: PL)
