The Assembly could seat two new legislators

A court ruling allegedly calls the PRD - PP agreement unconstitutional

ALEXIS CHARRIS PALACIOS
acharris@laestrella.com.pa

PANAMA. The PRD and President Martin Torrijos’ term might be coming to an end, but changes in the current administration are still under way.

A recent court ruling by the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) could unleash a series of changes in the National Assembly, as two new legislators are added during the last four months of the presidential period.

The ruling changes the panorama within the Assembly, adding one more seat to the assembly and increasing the number of legislators to 79.

In 2004, Oscar Avila, former PRD candidate for legislator of the circuit 8-8, was elected by residual votes under the PRD’s nominations, but an agreement between the PRD and the Popular Party (PP) kept him from being able to claim his seat.

The pact established that the PRD would give residual votes to the candidate of the PP, which at the time was Ruben Arosemena, current second Vice-President of Panama.

Avila filed a complaint with the court and four years later, the court has ruled in his favor.

According to judicial sources, the ruling declares the PRD and PP agreement unconstitutional. It would allow both Avila and the next PP candidate with the most votes to swear in as legislators. It is not certain what would happen to Jorge Hernan Rubio, current PP legislator who took Arosemena’s place under the arrangement when he became second vice-president.

If the ruling is implemented, Teresita de Arias, former legislator who did not gain enough votes in the last election, would become PP’s new representation in the National Assembly. According to Arias, however, she “has no interest” in the seat.

Avila, in the other hand, is willing to join the Assembly inMarch. “I still haven’t seen the court ruling, but if it is true starting March 1 I should have a seat,” he said.

The story gets more complicated as the PRD and the Popular Party have a similar arrangement for the May elections,and may be forced to revise it.

Publicidad