President José Raúl Mulino stated that his government has "returned international respect to Panama" during his visit to Boquete in Chiriquí.
Mulino highlighted advances in electrical interconnection, integration with Mercosur and the Central American Alliance, strengthening ties with the European Union, Japan, and South Korea, and improving relations with the United States after "overcoming past divergences".
The head of state affirmed that these movements aim to attract investors, regain international confidence, and increase the arrival of tourists to the country.
Mulino also defended "hard but necessary" decisions, such as controlling migration, implementing policies to attract concrete investments, and reactivating paralyzed public works, noting that organizing them is key to "closing the year well" and stabilizing the state's finances.
The president warned that the country cannot return to "the easy path of populist gambling," stating that Panama was "on the brink of the abyss."
He criticized the abandonment of hospitals, water treatment plants, schools, and roads, a situation he said "borders on treason to the country."
In economic terms, he acknowledged that the country has not yet taken off at the expected pace: "We all wanted to be flying... with a lot of effort, we are taxiing to be able to take off."
