President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, highlighted the arrival of 2026 full of hope for all Panamanians, with job creation, government investment in infrastructure projects exceeding B/.11 billion, and the investment of $30 million from the exclusive sale of material from the mine for social works.
Mulino, who accompanied the First Lady, Maricel Cohen de Mulino, during an institutional fair in the province of Chiriquí, announced that the new year will be to work hard in favor of the population, to restore their faith, and to lay the foundations for a country that grows and provides opportunities. At the same time, he emphasized that the use of the mine's funds will focus on health (hospitals and health centers) and water.
He highlighted the successful close of the fiscal year with positive numbers, a controlled deficit, and finances in order, with a 2026 budget strongly directed to the country's social sector.
«This week I trust that we will define with Minister Chapman that the 30 million they paid us in royalties for the mine material will be dedicated exclusively to social works, not a dollar elsewhere,» he pointed out.
Additionally, he referred to the recent murder of a National Police officer, so he did not rule out a year of greater rigor against crime and a firm hand against crime.
«Do not doubt that it is coming. It is useless for the Executive to make its effort through the security agencies if the Judiciary does not walk in step,» the head of state remarked. Mulino reiterated that no new laws are needed, but to enforce the existing ones and stop being the architects of a penal system «that deals with dangerous criminals,» with a system of guarantees as if it were talking about minor offenses.
«It is useless what our security bodies do if the Judicial Branch does not do its part,» he concluded.
President Mulino also said he was pleased with the effort of the international mission in Oslo, in the framework of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado.
«There are outlaws like yesterday's who ended a policeman's life... My respects to those families who contribute heroes to the country and are sometimes very misunderstood.»
