Panama : The fight against corruption at the heart of the presidential election.
The three main presidential candidates in Panama on Sunday promise to restore the image of their country, known as a tax haven. The winner might be the one who seems the least corrupt. Sunday's presidential election will probably not allow Panama to emerge from a gang of business people who have been holding it since this small country of some 4 million inhabitants has turned into a tax haven. But all candidates at least promise to fight against corruption, which has caught up with incumbent President Juan Carlos Varela, who could not serve a second term (this is the law in Panama). Polls on this one-round presidential poll give victory to the candidate of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, Laurentino Cortizo. This 66-year-old Socialist promises to fight to make health and education accessible to the poorest. Cortizo also pledged, during a televised debate, to "restore the name of Panama on the international scene". Although he is part of the Panamanian elite, he does not seem to be linked to the corruption cases that shook the country. Fight between China and the United States Behind him stands right-wing candidate Romulo Roux, a former foreign minister under the government of Ricardo Martinelli. He is currently in prison for spying on his political opposition. Roux proposes a constitutional reform to strengthen the judicial system of Panama in response to the corruption case of the Brazilian company Odebrecht. The 54-year-old lawyer also wants to simplify bureaucracy and increase transparency in Panama's social security management. Roux also said he wants to "defend the image of the country", undermined by tax evasion scandals in the service sector. For a long time under the control of the United States, Panama regained full sovereignty over its channel twenty years ago. China has gradually established itself as an important player In third place, according to polls, Ricardo Lombana, an independent candidate and relatively unknown, hit the nail with a few proposals, including those limiting the powers of the president or governing the use of public funds. This 45-year-old lawyer also intends to reform the justice system. He says his rivals will never be able to stop corruption in Panama because they have to join forces with the corrupt system to get to the government. Ricardo Lombana was credited with 10% intention to vote. External issues also weigh on this presidential, Panama's economy being dependent on international maritime trade. Linking the Pacific to the Atlantic, the Panama Canal provides 10% of tax revenue to this country. For a long time under the control of the United States, Panama regained full sovereignty over its channel twenty years ago. China has gradually established itself as an important player. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2017, Beijing is trying to install its logistics platform for Latin America in Panama. This country is also on the "new silk roads", the global investment strategy of China. It will be up to the next President of Panama to manage the competing ambitions of the United States and China on their soil. Read the full article
