International
Rómulo Roux, the presidential candidate who promises a Constituent Assembly to refound Panama
Rómulo Roux, leader and presidential candidate of the opposition Democratic Change (CD) party of Panama and who came second in the 2019 elections, is considered a politician who does not live off the system.
This gives it the power to carry out its main objective: a new Magna Carta that refounded Panama and frees it from corruption.
“I’m not a professional politician, I don’t live off the system, I don’t live on my donors, and that gives me the freedom to make the decisions that the country requires them to be made,” such as changing the Constitution through a constituent assembly,” the lawyer and doctor of law said in an interview with EFE.
Roux, standard-bearer of the traditional CD and Panameñista Party (PPa) and third in the most recent survey published by the newspaper La Prensa, tries again to reach the presidency of Panama with a series of basic columns, including economics, education and the reform of public institutions.
Winning, apart from “punctual” proposals such as creating 500,000 jobs and tripling, up to five million, the number of annual visitors to the country, he intends to leave the change of the 1972 Constitution as one of its “legacys”.
This new legal framework is needed, among others, “to eliminate the number of deputies (71), lower it to no more than 51 deputies and that they cannot raise their own budget when they feel like it, that they cannot take the Executive hostage.”
“Yes (refound), give the country a structure and a new legal framework that eliminates a system that today is made to shield the thugs, to shield corruption, to shield impunity. That system has already collapsed,” said Roux, born in Panama in 1965.
He admitted, however, that cases of corruption such as Odebrecht’s have been of people within the traditional political parties “who have done things wrong.”
But between fleeing “as others have done, one can choose to reform the party, ensure that it operates as it has to operate and that it does things right.”
“Those who want the usual path, the path of politicking, clientelism, malantry, I don’t even want them here,” he remarked.
Roux is fighting for the presidency for the period of 2024-2029 with former president Martín Torrijos (2004-2009) for the Popular Party (PP); the current vice president José Gabriel Carrizo for the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) and the Molirena; and Ricardo Lombana for the Movimiento Otro Camino (Moca) party.
His opponents are also former Minister José Raúl Mulino for the Realizing Goals (RM) collective and the Alianza Party (PA) instead of former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) – politically disqualified after being convicted of money laundering – and the candidates for the free application Melitón Arrocha, Maribel Gordón and Zulay Rodríguez.
Closely defeated in the 2019 elections by Laurentino Cortizo, Roux recalls that he always said that he “had doubt whether the official result reflected the will of voters at the national level in number of votes in different popular election positions.”
Even so, he now considers that the electoral system at that time “was what it was, and we decided to move forward for five more years, fight and be this May 5 again, to win the presidency.”
In that way, whoever was head of Foreign Affairs and minister for Channel Affairs with Martinelli’s government (2009-2014) points out that nothing distracts him, not even those who talk about his ‘American nationality’, something he denies and assures is a “dirty” campaign that comes from the disabled former president and Mulino, who leads the most recent survey with 29%.
“Why is it me who is attacked the most, if he says that they are flying in the polls? That they attack other candidates. Do they have an ass (fear)?” he said.
Roux, who claims to have his “own polls” and find out what happens while touring the country, affirms that he is not worried about his rivals either, but that it is important is that the Supreme Court of Justice “decide quickly” on the complaint of unconstitutionality against Mulino’s candidacy, “not to remove candidates, but to eliminate uncertainty.”
The lawsuit was filed on March 4 by a lawyer considering that, after the Electoral Tribunal disqualified Martinelli, Mulino’s candidacy is not valid because she was not subjected to primaries and also violates constitutional articles on the election of the president and the vice president of the country.
Among the issues that have marked the debate in the electoral campaign is that of the Cobre Panama mine, of the Canadian First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and disabled by a court ruling last November after massive protests against mining activity.
The issue has persecuted Roux for his relationship with one of the law firms involved in the signing of the first contract of the mining concession, but he responded without hesitation to EFE’s question about the fact that, in case of winning the presidency, things vary and the mine stays to continue operating.
“No, the mine is leaving. The mine is leaving because there is already a ruling from the Court and the people spoke,” he said, but that it must be “closed in an orderly manner and that it does not cost the country anything. Always close it, taking care of the environment.”
Central America
U.S. and Regional Allies Back Panama Amid Dispute With China
The United States, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago issued a joint statement in support of Panama’s sovereignty, arguing that China’s recent actions represent an attempt to politicize maritime trade and undermine the sovereignty of nations in the hemisphere.
“We are closely monitoring China’s selective economic pressure and recent actions affecting vessels flying the Panamanian flag,” the statement released Tuesday said. “Panama is a pillar of our maritime trading system and, as such, must remain free from undue external pressure.”
The statement comes amid growing tensions surrounding the Panama Canal and the operation of key ports linked to global trade.
At the end of January, Panama’s Supreme Court invalidated the legal framework supporting the 1997 concession that granted Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison, the right to operate the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals located on the Pacific and Atlantic entrances of the Panama Canal.
The ruling followed mounting pressure from the United States to curb Chinese influence around the strategic waterway, through which roughly 5% of global maritime trade passes.
CK Hutchison, which managed the ports for nearly three decades, rejected the court’s decision and accused Panamanian authorities of illegally confiscating its assets. The company has launched international arbitration proceedings against Panama, seeking more than $2 billion in damages.
Following the court ruling, reports emerged of increased detentions and inspections of Panamanian-flagged vessels in China, actions widely viewed as retaliatory measures.
On Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the joint statement as “completely unfounded and misleading,” accusing the United States of politicizing port operations and warning that Beijing would take steps to protect its interests in Panama.
International
King Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
King Charles III of the United Kingdom reaffirmed the strength of the British-American relationship on Tuesday during a speech before the United States Congress, describing the alliance between the two nations as “irreplaceable and unbreakable.”
The address, delivered at the Capitol, marked the first speech by a British monarch before Congress since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 and comes at a time of political tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and the Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“As President Trump himself observed during his state visit to Britain last autumn, the bond of kinship and identity between the United States and the United Kingdom is invaluable and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable,” the king said.
While reflecting on the upcoming 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, which will be commemorated this year, Charles III stated that the partnership between the two countries “was born out of disagreement, but is no less strong because of it.”
The monarch emphasized the democratic values shared by both nations and noted that major global changes have occurred whenever the two allies found common ground.
“When we have found that way to agree, great changes have taken place not only for the benefit of our peoples, but for all peoples,” he said.
King Charles also quoted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently described the relationship as “an indispensable alliance.”
Concluding his speech, the monarch described the shared history of the United States and the United Kingdom as “a story of reconciliation, renewal, and an extraordinary partnership.”
He added that Washington and London have forged “one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance continues to defend our shared values, together with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth, and around the world, and that we ignore calls urging us to become increasingly isolationist,” Charles III stated.
The king ended by urging both nations to “recommit to one another in selfless service to our peoples and to all peoples of the world.”
International
Trump Administration Considers Denying Green Cards Over Political Views
The administration of President Donald Trump is evaluating new immigration guidelines that could deny permanent residency to immigrants based on their political views, according to a report published by The New York Times.
The proposed measures, outlined in internal Department of Homeland Security documents, would instruct immigration officials to take applicants’ public expressions and ideological positions into account when reviewing green card applications.
According to the report, cases involving “possible anti-American and/or antisemitic conduct or ideologies” would need to be referred to higher authorities for additional review.
Even if applicants have not violated any laws, authorities could still reject residency requests if they determine that individuals have “endorsed, promoted, or supported anti-American views.”
Among the factors listed in the guidelines are participation in pro-Palestinian activities, actions considered antisemitic, and the burning of the U.S. flag.
The documents reportedly describe such actions as “heavily negative” factors in immigration evaluations, potentially blocking applicants from obtaining permanent residency and, eventually, U.S. citizenship.
The directives also place particular attention on demonstrations held on university campuses following the 2023 Hamas attacks against Israel.
However, flag burning has previously been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court as a form of protected free speech under the Constitution.
The proposal has sparked criticism from immigrant advocacy organizations, including the New York Immigration Coalition.
Its president, Murad Awawdeh, warned that the policies could pose a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms.
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