The Partido Panameñista (PPA)-led El Pueblo Primero (EPP) coalition government led by President Juan Carlos Varela might have attracted plaudits over its efforts to investigate alleged corruption that took place under the previous administration led by Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014). However, as the Varela government marks its one year anniversary in office, the challenges to its efforts to improve transparency remain clear. The European Union (EU) recently blacklisted Panama as a tax haven. Meanwhile Panama’s attorney general (AG), Kenia Porcell, last week announced the launch of an investigation into Norberto Odebrecht, the local subsidiary of Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, after Odebrecht’s CEO, Marcelo Odebrecht, was arrested in Brazil on 19 June for alleged corruption [WR-15-25].End of preview - This article contains approximately 1389 words.
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