The mirage of party loyalties in Panama
(Newsroompanama) Party hopping in Panama sometimes resembles a woman with a large wardrobe, or a man with a large collection of neckties and different colored shirts, ever ready to change to suit the occasion.
In countries with a parliamentary system it is a headline causing event when one person "crosses the floor". In Panama it’s become a matter of changing the dress or the tie, not for the occasion, or belief, but for personal gain, hope of recognition, promotion, the current equivalent of a botella or simply to hang on to a job. And some still live to rue the day.
The main parties in the ruling government coalition, the Cambio Democrático (CD) and Partido Panameñista, have gained massively from party hoppers and band waggoners over the last few months.
As of Dec. 31 the CD party, created and funded by Ricardo Martinelli had increased to 253,825. That’s 127,336 more than its membership in July of 2009 when he took office. The new believers included serving deputies and elected officials from the former ruling party the Partido Revolucionario Democrático ( PRD).
The Panameñista party, the number two member of the governing coalition membership was up 18,251 to 264,086, in the same period
Panama's other major political parties have all lost members.
The Unión Patriótica (UP) lost 10,000 and the Molirena party 5,788 members respectively in that time period. The UP now has 77,172 members, and Molirena party 50,905.
The opposition Partido Popular lost about 3,000 members. Down to 30,605.
But, the largest party in the country remains the opposition PRD, with 510,00 members although it has shed 110,000 members since July 2009, when it lost control of the government.. The PRD still boasts a core of steadfast members, and tides do turn. Those mulling over numbers should read Macbeth. “We’ve scotched the snake not killed it.”
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Original Source: Newsroompanama.com
Date Retrieved: January 24, 2011.
