Varela renews Panama's commitment to sustainable development and peace

Varela renews Panama's commitment to sustainable development and peace

In a session focused on commemorating the centenary of the birth of former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize Nelson Mandela, the Panamanian leader wanted to recall Mandela's legacy in the first place

The president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, today renewed the "commitment" to the objectives of sustainable development and the promotion of peace in the world, in his speech at the summit for peace in the United Nations.

By La Estrella de Panama

In a session focused on commemorating the centenary of the birth of former South African and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela, the Panamanian leader wanted to recall Mandela's legacy, who knew how to "overcome social inequality and racial discrimination on a global level".

"We must recognize their service to humanity and the protection of human rights, solidarity and democracy," added Varela, who said Mandela is a "source of inspiration that should guide this organization" to the UN.

After endorsing one of Mandela's appointments - "our best weapon, which our enemy can never resist, is peace" -, Varela said that Panama, "as a multi-ethnic and multicultural country and respectful of diversity and tolerance, believes faithfully in the capacity of countries in favor of the resolution "of conflicts.

"War and conflicts are the main causes of mass migrations," recalled the Panamanian leader, who settled: "My country today renews its commitment to the objectives of sustainable development, with national, regional and global actions to promote peace. , which is essential to achieve the other development objectives "and" global peace ".

Blandón and Etchelecu polarize contention

Blandón and Etchelecu polarize contention

From September 11 to October 25 is the campaign period for the candidates of the Panamanian party heading to the primaries on October 28.

By La Estrella de Panama

The different political forces within the official Panameñista Party begin to align around the presidential candidate that they will support in the primary elections of this political group, which will take place on Sunday, October 28 next.

Ten are the candidates who aspire to carry the Panamanian flag for the presidential election of May 5, 2019, among them: the mayor of the capital, José Blandón; the former director of the Ampyme Ada Romero; the former Minister of Housing and Territorial Planning Mario Etchelecu; Rodrigo Salamón Pérez Guillén, Ricardo Springer, Luis López, Juan Aguilar Rodríguez, José Díaz, Miguel Batista Guerra and the former director of the Social Security Fund Rolando Villalaz.

However, this just policy, which has the support of deputies, representatives of corregimiento and mayors of Panamaniacism, is practically polarized between the aspirants José Blandón and Mario Etchelecu.

Already the 16 deputies of Panamanianism begin to show their favoritism, either by Blandón or Etchelecu.

Blandón has the support of deputies Jorge Alberto Rosas, Katleen Levy, Jorge Iván Arrocha, José Luis Castillo, Juan Miguel Ríos, Adolfo Valderrama, Luis Eduardo Quirós and Gabriel Soto; while deputies Miguel Salas, Carlos Santana, Juan Moya, Juan Serrano and José Antonio Domínguez would be supporting Etchelecu.

Florentino Ábrego, who will not seek re-election, would be supporting Etchelecu with his political cadres. Meanwhile, Luis Barría remains undecided and has not defined who he will support.

On the other hand, José Luis Varela, who presides over the party, has not publicly shown his intention to back any of the pre-candidacies.

POLARIZED PROCESS

But which of the two pre-candidates will have the advantage in these internal elections?

For electoral expert Javier Ordinola, there is no doubt that the Panamanian presidential election will be polarized between Mayor Blandón and former Minister Etchelecu.

Ordinola said that the support of the deputies will be important; However, he considered that he does not know to what extent this support will be decisive, taking into account that the Panameñistas only have 16 deputies, unlike the PRD, with 26 deputies, who mostly backed Laurentino Cortizo in his presidential election.

"The support of deputies could be that it is not as forceful as it was in the presidential interior of the PRD; it would be necessary to see if that support results in the end in the triumph in the primaries by who they support more strongly, "he said.

Ordinola also said that the deputies have a structure under them and they are able to mobilize voters on the day of the vote, as well as the representatives of corregimiento and the mayors.

He also expressed that if President Juan Carlos Varela bowed down for one of the candidates, his opinion would always be heard by the membership and many people may be inclined towards the direction determined by the president.

He considered that in these Panamanian internal elections the political route, the experience and the political relations within the group will weigh heavily.

"The background of Blandón, who has already been a deputy, is a weighty antecedent and, obviously, Etchelecu has its disadvantage as the fact that he is just a known figure in public life," said the expert on electoral issues.

DISPERSED VOTE

Meanwhile, the deputy Miguel Salas, who supports Etchelecu, said that in the Panamanians there will be a different scenario from the PRD, because the vote is more dispersed.

He pointed out that although Mayor Blandón has the backing of more deputies, most of the corregimiento representatives and mayors have greater sympathy with Etchelecu.

"There are commitments with deputies, but these deputies have representatives and mayors, who in turn have commitments to their presidential candidates," he said.

Salas added that Etchelecu has been doing a job within the party, from the bottom up, working a lot with the local authorities. "This is Etchelecu's advantage, apart from having experienced deputies and ex-deputies with him."

In addition to having the support of deputies, Etchelecu is supported by the Minister of Social Development, Alcibiades Vásquez; the Secretary of Goals, Jorge González; and the former Minister of the Presidency Álvaro Alemán.

While Blandón is backed by the ministers of Labor, Luis Ernesto Carles; of Agricultural Development, Eduardo Carles; of Environment, Emilio Sempris; and the administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority, Jorge Barakat.

LEADERSHIP

For Deputy Luis Eduardo Quirós, who supports Blandón, the strength of the capital's mayor lies in different local leaders, experience and demonstrated ability. "He has run for different positions and has always won," said Quirós.

Big companies suffer, but the MEF boasts bonanza

Big companies suffer, but the MEF boasts bonanza

Tagarópulos announced the cessation of its operations to the Stock Exchange, and Panamanian franchises reported losses of more than $ 2 million.

At a time when large companies announce the cessation of their operations and others register millions of losses, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) assures that the economy of Panama maintains a leadership in Latin America with a dynamism of up to seven times higher than other nations of the world. the region.

Faced with the questions that different sectors ask about the management of the national economy, the MEF opted to use its social networks to boast of the country's growth.

Closures

14 restaurants closed this year in Panama due to the low sales recorded.

104 thousand 528 jobs have been generated by the service industry until August 2017.

However, the economist Adolfo Quintero pointed out that although it can not be denied that Panama is among the countries that grow the most in Latin America, first the domestic market must be analyzed in the first half of the year, since growth is the lowest in the region. the last 15 years.

"I can not fill myself with glory saying that we lead the growth of the Latin American economy, when internally that is not reality," he said.

He added that from 2003 to date there had been no lower growth, except for the year 2009, when the world economic crisis was reported.

However, in the midst of these contradictions, company restructuring increases in order to survive due to losses, while others prefer to sell part of their shares or up to 100%, as they can not bear the resounding drops they have suffered in their sales.

An example of this is the restaurants that have reported 50% reductions.

Although there are several companies that go through the same situation, recently it was known that two big players in the market, Panamanian Franchises and Tagarópulos, face a complicated situation.

Cessation and losses

Panamanian franchises reported economic losses in the second quarter of this year by 2 million 815 thousand 852 dollars, while Tagarópulos S.A. reported that it initiated an orderly process to significantly reduce its operations at the national level.

Tagarópulos is dedicated to the wholesale and retail of consumer goods as dry merchandise and general food and hygiene and beauty products for local and international markets.

Other companies that have recently announced "restructuring" are Grupo Shahani, Ricardo Perez, Bonlac, Panama Ports Company (PPC), Minera Panama, National Television. To these are added the denunciations of a group of Grupo Rey workers for the dismissal of 60 employees.

Aida Michelle de Maduro, president of the Association of Free Trade Zones of Panama, said that the economic situation is hitting strongly both small and large companies, which serve nationally and internationally.

"The slowdown is affecting all activities in Panama and there is no activity that is excellent, because it is not, on the contrary, have seen how to adjust for the economic slowdown," he said.

Meanwhile, the economist Maribel Gordón recalled that the problem is that the leadership that Panama has, as the MEF says, does not translate into quality of life for the majority of the population, as a result of an economic policy that does not address national development. Social.

"We are leaders in growth, but at the same time, leaders in the maldistribution of wealth, we are also leaders in that the significant accumulation of people who are malnourished and those are the things that we need to worry about," he stressed.

Panama must offer added value to the cargo

Panama must offer added value to the cargo

PSA, located on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, makes an investment of 450 million dollars to expand its capacity.

The decline in the movement of cargo in the national port system in recent months has not been an obstacle for Panama International Terminal, known as PSA, to continue investing in its expansion.

Alessandro Cassinelli, general manager of PSA, told Panama America that this terminal arrived in the country in 2007 making an investment of 166 million dollars, with a yard capacity of 450 thousand TEU or 20-foot containers.

Data

166 million dollars invested PSA in the first stage of its operations in Panama.

450 million dollars invested PSA in the second stage of its expansion.

However, it emphasizes that with the success obtained in this first operation and together with the expansion of the Panama Canal, they made the decision to expand and quintuple the capacity of the terminal to 2 million TEUs and acquire 8 gantry cranes that are added to the existing. 

Photo from www.psa.com.pa

Cassinelli explained that this year they have done very well in the cargo movement, versus last year, since they operate with the second largest shipping company in the world, one of the most important clients in Panama that made the decision to move to PSA from another terminal.

He indicated that the Pacific side needed capacity of dock and yard to convince certain shipping companies that today do not do business in Panama and do it from other countries in the region, to do their business of transshipment from this country.

The PSA manager indicated that at this moment with the capacity that adds to the peaceful side of 2 million TEU, no additional capacity is necessary.

"At the moment it would be complicated because there are different factors in the world economy that are not showing growth projections, we are seeing complicated projections between the United States and China, messages that arrive and do not justify an exponential growth of container cargo. As we are now in terms of capacity as a country, I consider that we offer what is necessary, "he said.

Laurentino Cortizo is the PRD candidate for the presidency

Laurentino Cortizo is the PRD candidate for the presidency

After achieving 67% of the votes, Laurentino Cortizo became a presidential candidate for the PRD and called for stopping 'the cancer of corruption'

Laurentino Cortizo yesterday became the presidential candidate of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), in his third attempt to achieve the nomination, after winning the presidential primaries, a tournament that had the participation of nearly 60% of the membership of the political group .

After 8:00 pm, Cortizo accumulated 198 thousand 740 votes (66.9%), while deputy Zulay Rodríguez ranked second, with 59 thousand 365 votes (20%), and former President Ernesto Pérez Balladares had 23 thousand 244 votes ( 7.8%).

The surprise of the day was given by the number 1 on the ballot, the Coclesano Leonel Rodríguez, who was fourth, with 3,235 votes, above more well-known figures, such as Gerardo Solís and Camilo Alleyne.

Figures

1,569 polling stations were placed for these primaries.

15 candidatures to deputies were reserved for alliances that take place in view of the May general elections.

The flagman of the PRD, who was president of the National Assembly in the 2000-2001 period and Minister of Agricultural Development in the administration of Martín Torrijos (2004-2009), stressed that the main task in the electoral closure period will be "to add all the companions around a great project of country ".

And that task seems to be facilitated, since his main rivals in yesterday's race expressed their support for the national suffrage of May 2019.

A cheerful Zulay Rodríguez was very excited because, in her first experience to aspire to the presidency, she has become the second force of the PRD and is willing to talk with Cortizo to collaborate with her government agenda.

For his part, Perez Balladares, in a more conservative tone, said that Cortizo has his vote, although he reiterated that it will be very difficult for the party of the founder to survive if the next elections are lost.

The "Bull", as he is known to the politician, said categorically that "here we are", implying that he will not run again to return to the Palace of the Herons, which was in the quinquennium 1994-1999 .

Speech

In his first speech as PRD nominee for the country's presidency, Laurentino Cortizo called to stop what he called "the cancer of corruption and incapacity."

He reiterated that his campaign will be based on three principles that are "not to lie, not to steal and not to betray the people".

He added that he will work for a Panama with law and order, but above all, fair.

Working day

The bad weather that prevailed in the country was not an obstacle for more than half of those eligible to vote to exercise their right.

"There was a great mobilization, in spite of the rain," said PRD Secretary General Pedro Miguel González, who hopes that unity in the party will prevail to win the people's trust.

The precandidates Gerardo Solis and Zulay Rodríguez denounced some irregularities in places like Darién and Puerto Armuelles.

In the case of Zulay, he denounced the purchase of votes, along with the pre-candidate for deputy for the circuit 8-9 Emily Riverol. They specified that for a vote they paid 30 dollars and if there were two, the sum reached 100.

The candidates admitted that due to the lack of time they did not file complaints with the Electoral Tribunal.

City Halls

In the fight for the mayoral candidacy of the capital district, there was a bitter dispute between José Luis Fábrega and Quibián Panay.

In San Miguelito, César Sanjur obtained the candidacy, after defeating the representative Omar Montilla.

'Panama is a country that provides opportunities for business'

'Panama is a country that provides opportunities for business'

Bahk Sahng-hoon, Korea's ambassador to Panama, who will leave office in a few days, received 'The Star of Panama' in his office. He talked about his experience in the country, showing optimism about the Panamanian economy.

By La Estrella de Panama

When Bahk Sahng-hoon (Seoul, 1964) visited Panama for the first time in 2002, he never imagined becoming the highest representative of his nation in the Isthmus, fourteen years later. Since taking office in 2016, as Ambassador of Korea in Panama, he has sought to promote the image of his country, establishing the necessary bilateral relations.

Sahng-hoon was a participant in a historic event between the two nations, when trade ministers from Korea and five countries of Central America, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama met to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) on last February 12. "Korea is the second Asian country to sign an FTA with Panama, after Singapore," he says.

'I HAVE A SUGGESTION: IMPROVE ROAD ARTERIES. WITH MORE LIGHTING, MORE ASPHALTED AND MORE DRAINAGES FOR RAINS. THERE HAS BEEN MANY ACCIDENTS AND THE TRAFFIC IN THE CITY IS TERRIBLE '.

About 15 days ago he received a phone call from the Foreign Minister of his country, who informed him that his work in Panama was over. His nation had a special job for him. 'I will be the Ambassador for Public Diplomacy; it's an opportunity to serve my country, it's an offer I cannot refuse, "he says. Sahng-hoon regrets leaving early, but takes away 'experiences, achievements and satisfactions'. He also hopes to look a bit like the Panamanians, because he says that "they are always positive and cheerful." From the fourteenth floor of the RBS tower of the city, the Korean ambassador receives La Estrella de Panamá in his office, where he boasts a wonderful view of the city. Diplomat Sahng-hoon does not lose his smile while answering questions about his new role, his experience in Panama, what is left pending, business relations and the inter-Korean summit that aims to achieve peace.

To break the ice, before the interview, remember with special enthusiasm, that day that visited our press and could see a copy, with its pages already yellowed, the date when he was born. "It was a very gentle and impressive gesture to admire such a thing," he recalls. Since then, an edition of 'La Dean' has never been missing from his desk.

TELL ME, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU TO BE AN AMBASSADOR?

Being an ambassador carries a great responsibility. It is a huge commitment. As an ambassador from Panama I never felt that my job was difficult, I really enjoyed my service in many ways. I tell you: I enjoyed working with my Panamanian counterparts, in the Government, in the National Assembly ... I met many businessmen, and many good people who always helped me and trusted in my good will to execute the things I wanted to do. I was a lucky one. Panama is a happy country. (smile)

THEY SEND TO YOU TO CITY OF PANAMA AND THINK WHAT WELL, PANAMA, A COUNTRY 'ALEGRE', AS IT HAS SAID IT BEFORE; NOW THEY RETURN TO SEOUL, BEFORE TIME ...

I have been here for two years and four months and I have enjoyed my service in this beautiful country. Normally we serve in a position for three years ... I will return to Seoul this week, where I will receive my new instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

AND, WHAT WILL YOUR NEW CHARGE BE?

Officially I will be ambassador for Public Diplomacy. It is a new concept of traditional diplomacy. In other words, government relations are left aside and one focuses basically on representing and promoting Korea through academia, the private sector, society and NGOs.

IS IT A MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY?

Yes. I accepted it with humility, it is a new challenge, and with the challenges come the opportunities. I will take them with great pleasure and I will always think how I can do my job in the best way. However, before leaving as Ambassador of Korea in Panama, I will continue doing it in the best possible way, until the last day.

HOW HAS YOUR DIPLOMATIC EXPERIENCE BEEN IN OUR COUNTRY?

If I could describe my experience, in Panama, it would be in a book. My book is made up of many chapters. I wrote my 'Chapter: Panama', for two years and four months, and that chapter is very rich, rewarding and, above all, happy. Before coming here, I had a list of 'what to do' as an ambassador, I had many things on that list. I cannot say that I completed each of them, but I can say that the ones I did were very rewarding and happy, and I feel satisfied with my service. The 'Chapter: Panama' was very well written, full of achievements and satisfactions.

AND WHAT WAS YOU PENDING?

As I was saying, in my list of 'things to do' as an ambassador, it was a long list, I could not complete it all, but I finished it 90%. The only one that I have not achieved, that I could achieve it if I had more time, would be to create a more substantial cooperation in the projects of waste management and water use and management. These are two areas in which I would like to see more progress and where I would like to see more achievements.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT MILESTONE BETWEEN PANAMA AND KOREA?

Probably the main achievement of the relations was the signing of the free trade agreement between Korea and Central America. We are waiting for the ratifications of both National Assemblies, both in Panama and in Korea. Everything will come into effect next year. We hope that with this, the exchange relations between the two countries will increase even more.

AND THE KOREAN PRESENCE IN THE COUNTRY?

The Korean community is not very big. We are 400 Koreans. We have 19 companies, and two of them, governmental. One of them is Kotra, whose objective is to promote Korean trade and investment in Panama and vice versa.

LET'S TALK, THEN OF THE COMMERCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS ...

Among the private ones, we have Samsung, LG, Hankook Tire, we even have a bank, KEB Hana Bank. Without a doubt, we see Panama as a 'hub' for the entire Latin American and Caribbean region.

AND YOU WHO KNOWS THE INTERNATIONAL DYNAMICS WELL, IS IT OPTIMISTIC AS TO THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE COUNTRY?

Clear! We see Panama as a country that provides opportunities for business. And that's why I came here, to help you generate business. My contribution, if I could say it, in the 2 years and four months that I was here, was to update, improve and increase the friendship and cooperation of two countries.

WHAT IMPORTANCE DOES THE PANAMA CANAL HAVE FOR ITS COUNTRY?

Very many. We occupy the sixth place of customers, due to the load flow used by the Canal.

HOW DID THE PANAMANIAN SOCIETY PERCEIVE?

I admire the Panamanians very much. I like the attitude with which they face life. In Korea, we are more serious, very serious. In Panama, life is full of joy, the inhabitants are positive before the difficulties.

LET'S TALK, NOW ABOUT THE INTERCOREAN SUMMIT, A NEW PEACE WAS BETWEEN BOTH NATIONS?

In general terms, we are on a fragile road; however, we are making steady progress. An example of this: the historic summit between the Koreas of the North and the South, in April, the meeting between the embassies on two occasions, and the one that will take place in September in Pyongyang in North Korea. As you know, there are North Korea, South Korea and the United States, as the key parties in this litigation. However, China, Russia and Japan also want to raise their voices; technically the two Koreas are now at war, although this would have ended with the signing of the armistice agreement of July 27, 1953.

WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM THE MEETING IN PYONGYANG OF SEPTEMBER?

As you can see, Donald Trump and Kim-Yung Un met in Singapore in June and after that their representation still stands. Our representation is still standing: South Korea, as an ally of the United States ... so this tripartite agreement is on track. I know that there is no significant result, but both South Korea, North Korea and the United States are working very closely and the September summit will surely provide moments that will advance this discussion, where our goal is the total denuclearization of the peninsula. We want to achieve a permanent peace.

FINALLY, SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE IMPROVED IN THE CITY OF PANAMA?

I have a suggestion: improve the arterial arteries. With more lighting, more asphalt and more drainage for the rains. There have been many accidents and the traffic in the city is terrible.

The Panama Metro carried out the first tests of Line 2

From La Estrella de Panama

The Panama Metro carried out the first tests of Line 2

The tests were made from the courtyards and workshops from 24 de Diciembre  to Pedregal station.

Since the night of August 16, the Panama Metro is conducting the first tests with the first trains on Line 2. According to statements by President Juan Carlos Varela, last June, these tests were scheduled to take place on December 28.

These tests are carried out late at night from the yards and workshops of the Panama Metro located in Nuevo Tocumen, in the corregimiento December 24 to Pedregal station.

Yesterday, the assembly of the footbridge or pedestrian crossing of the Cincuentenario station, on Avenida Domingo Díaz, was finished, specifically by the Roosevelt roundabout area.

Of the 16 stations of Line 2, this footbridge is the largest, has a length of 68 meters, a weight of 343 tons and for its assembly some 26,567 screws have been used.

Line 2 is 80% complete and must be operational from January 15 for the World Youth Day to be held in Panama from January 22 to 27, 2019. By that date, 5 of the 16 will have to function. 

After the event that will gather thousands of pilgrims, Line 2 will close and then open in April for the entire population.

The section of Line 2 comprises a length of 21 kilometers of elevated road. The 16 stations will go from Nuevo Tocumen to the Gran Estación de San Miguelito to join Line 1.

The stations are located in San Miguelito, Paraíso, junction with Vía Cincuentenario, Villa Lucre, Brisas del Golf, Cerro Viento, San Antonio, El Parador, Don Bosco, the Technological University of Panama (UTP), Las Mañanitas, Hospital Irma de Lourdes Tzanetatos, Altos de Tocumen, December 24 and the Nuevo Tocumen neighborhood.

The mega project will have 21 trains of 5 wagons and is built since October 2015 by the Line 2 Consortium formed by Odebrecht and FCC Construcciones, companies that made Line 1.

The work has an investment of $ 1,857 million and will have an initial capacity to transport 16,000 passengers per hour in each direction, but is designed for a maximum future capacity of 40,000 passengers during peak hours.

The average public travel time for the East area and part of San Miguelito to the city center during peak hours is 90 minutes; reaching more than two hours. With Line 2 in operation, this population can make the same trip in 35 minutes.

Varela participated in the last concrete pouring of the third bridge over the Canal

Varela participated in the last concrete pouring of the third bridge over the Canal

The project was promoted by the ACP and presents an advance of 90%, exceeding $ 570 million

President Juan Carlos Varela witnessed the last concrete emptying of the construction works of the third bridge over the Panama Canal, in the province of Colon.

Varela said that this new bridge will help develop a new tourist circuit between the provinces of Colon and Panama.

"These works are a sign that we continue working tirelessly for the progress of Columbus; this bridge will benefit the residents of some 14 townships of the communities of the Costa Abajo de Colón ", added the president.

He also called on the private sector to join and support the infrastructure investment being made by the Government and the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) in the province of Colon.

The project was promoted by the ACP and presents an advance of 90%, exceeding $ 570 million. This work is in addition to the completion of the natural gas plant, the urban renewal of the province and the promotion of Colón Puerto Libre.

By La Estrella de Panama

Pérez Balladares adds the support of Juan Carlos Navarro

Pérez Balladares adds the support of Juan Carlos Navarro

Both figures join forces to become the option in the primary of the party that is celebrated on September 16. Some 18 applicants signed up for the PRD presidential primary

The outlook within the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) took a new turn.

Juan Carlos Navarro, who for the third time sought to reach the Presidency of the Republic, made the decision to decline to his presidential aspirations.

Navarro joins the candidacy of Ernesto Pérez Balladares, who intends to become the standard-bearer of the PRD for the May 2019 elections.

With the resignation of Navarro to his presidential aspirations are 17 candidates in the competition.

The PRD summoned its membership, registered until May 5, to elect its electoral offer in primary elections on September 16.

From La Estrella de Panama 

The Navarro - Perez Balladares unit proclaimed itself as the Torijista alliance. Both figures share ideals strengthened by historical and permanent militancy in the PRD. In addition, concrete proposals to eradicate the political clientelism that governs the destiny of the party and the inescapable need to introduce constitutional changes that strengthen the failed institutionality and the climate of corruption that affects the country.

"We are facing a crossroads where individualities do not fit," Navarro said in front of the people who accompanied him to report that he joined the candidacy of Perez Balladares.

According to Navarro, "the best way to shake off the government is a PRD alliance with the PRD." The PRD stopped governing Panama in 2009 after losing general elections at the polls.

The two elections after 2009 the PRD, has not been so favored at the polls for the office of president. In the elections of May 2014 his candidate, Navarro, was in the third position.

"It is necessary to prevent the varelismo continue having the command another five years with their chips, close friends in all political parties," said Navarro, who added that you can not 'have candidates who shun the debates'.

Pérez Balladares invited all the members of the PRD who wish to join the 'caravan of triumph'. "Everyone is welcome and welcome," said the presidential candidate.

The president Pérez Balladares, during his speech, stressed the need to 'recover the institutionality in the country, in addition to rescuing the National Assembly and have a judicial body that does not lower its head to anyone'. Perez Balladares seeks to repeat and lead the party to victory as he did in 1994 that managed to take the Presidency to a group that 5 years before had been left in ashes and discredited by its connection with the military dictatorship that ended with the invasion of the United States. Panama.

After announcing the decline of Navarro and the invitation made Perez Balladares to join to achieve the victory in May 2019, presidential candidate Zulay Rodriguez said he will not decline to his presidential candidacy.

Navarro came to the PRD from the hand of Perez Balladares and was mayor of the district of Panama twice, considered the catapult to become president.

In the race for the internal race of the PRD continue figures as Laurentino Cortizo, Camilo Alleyne, Gerardo Solis and Mitchell Doens, among others.