CITY OF PANAMA — The Supreme Court of Justice of Panama reported that it will meet from Tuesday until “reaching a decision” on a claim of unconstitutionality against the presidential candidate who leads the polls with a view to Sunday’s elections. The ruling is awaited with expectation on the threshold of one of the most complex votes in the Central American country.
In the hands of the judges of the highest court is the future of the candidacy of José Raúl Mulino, the substitute on the former president’s ticket. Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014). The disqualification of the former president and his subsequent replacement in the candidacy is an unprecedented case since the nation of more than four million inhabitants regained democracy more than three decades ago and has surrounded the current process with uncertainty.
The Court must decide whether to keep Mulino in the presidential race or annul his nomination, which could leave the candidate with the greatest support so far according to polls out of the elections.
His decision could be the subject of possible appeals. It is also not ruled out that the highest court may choose to postpone its resolution until after the vote.
Mulino, a 64-year-old lawyer and former Minister of Security, received authorization from the Electoral Court on March 4 to replace Martinelli on the payroll of the Realizing Goals and Alliance parties, after the popular 72-year-old former governor was electorally disqualified. after confirming a sentence against him of more than 10 years in prison for money laundering.
Martinelli insists on his innocence and maintains that it is an alleged political persecution against him.
The lawsuit against Mulino’s candidacy was filed by lawyer Karisma Etienne Karamañites, in her personal capacity, arguing that the candidate is not eligible because his list was not submitted to primaries by Realizing Goals and that, therefore, he did not receive an accreditation as such of the National Scrutiny Board.
But one of the three judges of the Electoral Court, Luis Guerra, maintains that in Mulino’s case a rule was applied that states that when a suitable candidate is disqualified for any circumstance, the substitute or in this case the vice-presidential candidate can occupy that space. .
“The court does not do anything capriciously,” he said in reference to a question asked by the Supreme Court judge handling the lawsuit, Olmedo Arrocha, about who decided that Mulino should be a presidential candidate.
The day before, a group of well-known lawyers asked the Supreme Court to shelve the lawsuit, pointing out that early voting abroad has already been underway for days.
Mulino, who according to voting intention polls leads his closest rivals — former president Martín Torrijos, lawyers Ricardo Lombana and Rómulo Roux, a former ally of Martinelli from the Democratic Change party — closed his campaign on Sunday receiving the support, through from a recorded video of Martinelli, who has taken refuge in the Nicaraguan embassy since the beginning of February.
Source: AP
