The People's Party (PP) in Panama is facing an internal crisis just one week before its leadership elections. The scandal centers on the Caicedo family, whose patriarch was arrested in 'Operation Nodriza' for suspected ties to drug trafficking. The patriarch's son, César Caicedo Jr., and his cousin, Eric Jiménez Caicedo, are running for high-ranking party positions. Their candidacy is led by the current Deputy General Secretary, Cirilo Salas, who is also seeking re-election for the party's presidency. If Salas's team wins, the party's internal structure would fall into the hands of the Caicedos. Members of the PP state that Salas should have acted with more prudence, as the party is now being linked to organized crime, which could affect its prospects in upcoming elections. Salas and his candidates have not yet commented on the situation. Salas's team has dismissed the matter as a 'dirty campaign' by political opponents and is urging members not to share content linking the politician to organized crime or the Caicedo family.
