In response to criticism from legislative blocs and independent deputies regarding the tacit resignation for those registered in political parties that support candidates for free nomination, the General Deputy of Realizando Metas (RM), Alma Cortés, clarified that the Supreme Court's ruling on this matter is not to prohibit signatures.
Consequently, the so-called tacit resignation was mentioned, which also applies to citizens registered in political parties who affiliate with other groups.
However, the president of the Panameñista party, José Blandón Figueroa, recalled that it was they who proposed reducing the time to collect supporting signatures for their candidacies. "The pillars of democracy are the political parties, and it is necessary to strengthen them with clear rules, as well as for independents." On this point, lawyer Aristides Blanco wrote on social networks that in Panama, free nomination is not a disadvantage, but an advantage.
"But not to rally under the same flag and not have the controls that the Electoral Tribunal has for political parties," he emphasized. Professor Dalila Mosquera stated that if independents want to be treated under the same regulations as political parties, then they should create their own political parties.
In her argument, Cortés stated that the right of a citizen to sign for an independent candidate is not affected by this measure. Cortés added that candidates for free nomination are not parties, yet they receive public funding and have a parliamentary bloc. She argued that they have more effective campaign time, starting from the collection of signatures, in addition to being able to compete as lists as if they were political parties and receiving high post-election subsidies individually.
"This is not a prohibition; it is simply political coherence," the politician wrote on her social networks.
Regarding raising the percentage required to validate a candidacy from 2% to 3%, the Electoral Tribunal stated that this was done to equalize the treatment with political parties, for which the percentage to be recognized and to survive in electoral races was also raised to 3%. In her view, the only thing she finds unconstitutional is that in multi-member constituencies they received 'slate' votes, obtaining half the quotient and remainder. "If you sign for an independent, you are supporting another project," the independents stated.
The independents affirmed that last Thursday, in the CNRE, an attack was made on them with the modification of several articles. Regarding the tacit resignation, the International Relations expert, José Manuel Samaniego, said that it is not a punishment, but a logical consequence.
During the discussion of this issue in the National Commission for Electoral Reforms (CNRE), a formula was sought so as not to violate the Supreme Court's ruling, which dates back to 2015. No more married chances!
