THE REALITY OF POWER

Martinelli’s woes are just starting

Many political analysts feel that Martinelli´s appointments are questionable, but at least the private sector is optimistic

MARIJULIA PUJOL LLOYD
mpujolstar@laestrella.com.pa

PANAMA. While president elect Ricardo Martinelli is on holiday in Europe and invitations to his inauguration are flying out to dignitaries in Panama and around the world, political problems at home continue to pile up.

Thecontroversial appointment of Rogelio Alba as governor of the Kuna Yala indigenous region, the double nationality of the mayor elect, Bosco Vallarino and the possibility of Panama abandoning the Central American Parliament are just some of the controversies that await the new Panamanian head of state.

Many political analysts have questioned the Martinelli’s appointments to key posts like choosing the popular television journalist, Lucy Molinar as Minister of Education.

Teachers are deeply worried about what Molinar is planning to do with the already crumbling education system, without having any experience in the subject except perhaps interviewing angry parents and unhappy educators.

The indigenous groups are not happy at the prospect of having Rogelio Alba as governor. The man has been accused of contraband, defrauding a school subsidy and tax evasion among nearly a dozen pending charges.

However,those concerns pale in comparison with the future National Police director, Gustavo Pérez jr, a former lieutenant of the defunct Defense Forces and a member of the Anti-terrorism Unit, under former dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega.

Perhaps one of the most embarrassing episodes for Martinelli is having a mayor-elect who has sworn allegiance to another country.

The case of Bosco Ricardo Vallarino, keeps raising its ugly head and the Electoral Tribunal will have decided in less than 20 days if he is going to receive or not his mayor’s credentials. However, he is apparently not worried as he is concentrating on the decoration of his new office.

Meanwhile, the current mayor and former vice-presidential candidate for the Revolutionary Democratic Party, Juan Carlos Navarro is preparing to stay at his post a little longer.

Martinelli will also have to face other problems such as the slowdown in the economy, the rising cost of the food basket, a crippled transport system and the highest levels of delinquency that the country has ever seen. The private sector is optimistic believing that supermarket magnate Martinelli will cope.

Publicidad