The National Assembly of Panama has initiated the process to select a new magistrate for the Electoral Tribunal. On Monday, April 13, the official list of 27 candidates was submitted to the Credentials Committee. This committee will now be responsible for two fundamental tasks: organizing a series of interviews with the candidates and verifying their compliance with the established requirements. The candidates have a three-day deadline to present their documentation for review. Once this phase is complete, the committee will issue a report detailing which aspirants meet the criteria to hold the position. Subsequently, all candidates who pass the documentary review will advance to the plenary session of the Assembly, where they must be proposed by at least one deputy. The final decision on when to include the election on the agenda will rest with the board of directors of the Assembly. The process is taking place under tight deadlines, as the period of ordinary sessions ends on April 30. The election will require an absolute majority of votes. The list of candidates includes figures with significant weight in both the public and professional sectors. According to Secretary General Carlos Alvarado, the timeline is "just tight," and the progress of the process will also depend on the workload of the plenary, which is currently debating multiple issues on its agenda.
