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Weekly Report - 22 November 2018 (WR-18-46)

PANAMA: Ethics pact raises eyebrows

“A mockery of the people.” This was the response by Saúl Méndez, the presidential candidate for the small leftist Frente Amplio por la Democracia (FAD), to the ‘ethics pact’ recently signed by the six other parties ahead of the general election in May 2019. Citing concerns about the previous lack of transparency surrounding state funds and their use by the main political parties, Méndez’s response to the pact comes as the 71-member unicameral legislature has been hit by a fresh scandal involving the government-run sports institute (Pandeportes). All of this has served to focus attention on the chief electoral issue in Panama – government corruption. Concerns have intensified due to scandals such as that involving Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht which broke in December 2016 and has implicated top officials, including President Juan Carlos Varela himself.

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