Marathon sitting ends in win win situation says President

(newsroompanama.com) The ninety days of meetings  on the chorizo or sausage law 30 ,in which nine different projects were rushed through the National Assembly under the umbrella of an aviation bill, and led to violent confrontations and deaths,  ended with a final 18 hour marathon session that ended at 5.13. a.m. on Sunday.

When President Ricardo Martinelli received the results he said it was a win win situation for all involved. There were, he said, no winners or losers among government, employers and unions.

The law led to protests across the country and a violent confrontation in Bocas del Toro where there were four deaths, and multiple injuries including demonstrators who lost their sight.

In what was close to a mea culpa The president, who has built a reputation as a solo decision maker said that when the administration makes a mistake, they take a step back. Several times during his short speech he repeated the need to continue to explore the need for dialogue

Martinelli reiterated that the draft agreed upon at the negotiating table is divided into six different laws/. A special Cabinet Council was convened yesterday, after which the projects will be sent to the National Assembly.

Elizabeth Saint Malo facilitator of the negotiating table said that the most important result of the negotiations was that, thanks to the willingness of all groups involved in the discussion ,government, employers, and union workers "Panama had once again won” by confronting the issues with dialogue.

The final report was quickly whipped through a specially convened cabinet session, and will be before the National assembly on Friday.

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Original Source: Newsroompanama.com
Date Retrieved: October 11, 2010.