The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, fulfilled his campaign promise by making the Social Security Fund (CSS) the first item on his agenda. After two months of dialogues and debates regarding benefits and the Disability, Old Age, and Death (IVM) system, the bill was presented by the Minister of Health to the National Assembly on November 6.
After intense discussions, the regulation passed through three debates in the Legislative without significant controversies that could affect the social peace of the country. Mulino emphasized that, despite wishing for a more technical and quicker debate, the independence of the Legislative Power was respected.
The president lamented the opposition of some sectors from the beginning, making it clear that those who opposed the project are not appreciated. With this new legislation, the government aims to ensure the sustainability of the CSS and prevent future crises in the social security system.
Mulino announced that he would sanction the reform law for the CSS in the first days of the upcoming week, celebrating that Panamanians would contribute more than one billion dollars annually to strengthen the system. He highlighted that this was one of his most important commitments and that he has worked since the beginning of his term to address the crisis in the social security entity.
The president stated that he knew from the beginning that this law would be politically costly and thanked the deputies who voted in favor of the project, recognizing their vision for the country. Mulino clarified that this approval does not respond to political or personal interests and asserted that his concern was not his popularity in the polls, but rather resolving an important problem for the country.
