The inclusion of the slogan "Con paso firme" (With a firm step) on new vehicle license plates in Panama has sparked controversy from various political figures and social media users.
The new plates, designed by the Transit and Land Transportation Authority (ATTT), feature the slogan associated with the current administration of President José Raúl Mulino. According to Panamanian law, metal license plates have a five-year validity period, meaning this slogan will be visible on private vehicles for at least the next five years. Critics, such as deputy Yamireliz Chong, argue that this turns an official document into a propaganda tool and violates the neutrality that state documents should have.
"No Panamanian should accept a license plate with the slogan of a government that doesn't pay for the car or the plate," Chong stated on social media. She called it "an arbitrary imposition by the Municipality and the ATTT that breaks with the institutional neutrality that official documents of the State must have. It is a lack of respect and we cannot allow it." Other critics, including Lineth M., also expressed disagreement, stating that it is disrespectful to Panamanians who fulfill their responsibilities, pay taxes, and bear the cost of their plates with their own effort.
This practice is not new in Panama. Previous administrations have also used slogans on plates, from nationalist mottos during the military dictatorship to more recent ones like "Uniendo Fuerzas" (Uniting Forces) during the pandemic. In this context, the current administration appears to be reviving this practice, which has fueled public discontent.
