Panama waiting for the Court to decide the future of the presidential candidate

On Tuesday, Panama was waiting for the Supreme Court of Justice to decide on a claim of unconstitutionality against the presidential candidate who leads the polls ahead of Sunday’s elections.

The highest court of the Central American country scheduled an extraordinary plenary session for 9 in the morning (1400 GMT) and although it did not specify the issues to be discussed, various political, legal and civil society actors expect it to issue a definitive statement regarding the future of the candidacy. of José Raúl Mulino, the substitute on the ticket for former president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014).

Mulino, a 64-year-old lawyer and former Minister of Security, received authorization from the Electoral Court on March 4 to replace the popular 72-year-old ex-governor on the payroll of the Realizing Goals and Alliance parties, who was disqualified from voting after being confirmed. a sentence against him of more than 10 years in prison for money laundering.

The lawsuit was filed by lawyer Karisma Etienne Karamañites, in her personal capacity, arguing that Mulino is not eligible because his payroll was not submitted to primaries by Realando Metas. Other jurists also allege that allowing Mulino to appear in the elections without a companion on the ballot goes against what the Constitution establishes.

According to experts, the Court could make a resolution before Sunday, either with a ruling that leaves Mulino out or keeps him in the race. It could also leave a decision until after the vote, which would prolong uncertainty in one of the most complex electoral processes in Panama’s recent history.

Two of the three main magistrates of the Electoral Court have defended their decision to give the green light to Mulino’s candidacy and consider that a ruling that implies changes to the presidential ballot a few days before the vote would be counterproductive. Even several of Mulino’s rivals have expressed their rejection of his candidacy being annulled.

A group of lawyers asked the Supreme Court the day before to file the lawsuit, pointing out that early voting abroad has already been underway for days.

Mulino, who according to voting intention surveys leads by just over 10 percentage points over his closest rivals—former president Martín Torrijos, Ricardo Lombana, of the Otro Camino Movement, and Rómulo Roux, of Cambio Democrático—closed his campaign on Sunday. receiving support, through a recorded video, from Martinelli, who has taken refuge in the Nicaraguan embassy since the beginning of February.

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