The President of the Republic, according to Dr. Luis De León Arias, president of the National Association of Jurists of Panama, should not evade his constitutional responsibilities in the face of the conflict with the United States over the Panama Canal. According to a legal analysis of the Political Constitution, De León Arias emphasizes that the Canal is an inalienable heritage of Panama, open to the transit of vessels from all nations, subject to laws and regulations.
He emphasizes that the president, regardless of any situation, cannot delegate all responsibility to the Canal's board of directors. As De León Arias explains, the president must lead and not separate himself from the legal and political functions granted by popular vote. He highlights that the Panama Canal is a strategic resource for the nation and its neutrality is fundamental in the international context.
The Torrijos-Carter treaty, which declares the neutrality of the Canal, establishes the importance of maintaining the peaceful transit of vessels from all nations. The creation of the Panama Canal Authority as an autonomous legal entity with a board of directors reinforces the importance of its impartial operation. This board, composed of eleven directors, has a director appointed by the president who chairs the Board and is the Minister of State for Canal Affairs.
De León Arias stresses that, according to the composition of the Panama Canal Authority, the high officials of this institution report to the president of the Republic. Therefore, it is the president who cannot detach himself from his functions, especially in times of conflict such as that generated by recent statements from Donald Trump and his Secretary of State.
In this sense, he highlights that the president must lead in defense of the honor of the Republic. In a context of potential vulnerability of Panamanian sovereignty, it is crucial that national unity is acted upon to protect the interests of the country and its identity. The Proclamation of National Unity is suggested as a necessary measure at this time to avoid divisions based on personal resentments or selfish interests.
