El Toro attacks Martinelli

PANAMA. The former President of Panama, Ernesto “Toro” Perez Balladares has harshly criticized the “folkloric way” in which President Ricardo Martinelli is handling the government.

“I believe that demolishing walls and fences is the competence of judges, who could have handled the job with more propriety and within the law,” said Balladares when he referred to the actions of the head of state in the so called “concessions war” in Amador.

Balladares said that the actions taken by Martinelli of seizing illegal landfills was correct, “I never agreed with the concessions contracts and I agreed that the land should be confiscated. However, the way he did it was a bit unorthodox.”

However, Balbina Herrera, president of the Democratic Revolutionary Party said that Martinelli’s style was dangerous.

Herrera said that she agreed in principle with Martinelli's going after the State’s debtors, but “it is not correct for a president of the republic to grab a mallet and start knocking down walls and door, because the rule of law must respected.”

“What he is doing is not right, especially when we are an investment country and the money is not going to come back,” said Herrera.

She said that instead of promoting employment within private enterprise, “he is filling the public sector with entrepreneurs who never have any interest in the State.”

The former Panama’s mayor, Juan Carlos Navarro criticized the way in which the Administrative Career bill has been handled.

He said that he will vigilant and will denounce any irregularities in the Martinelli Administration.