Electoral Tribunal proposes changes to Electoral Code

The debate on changes in Panama’s National Assembly will begin Today, Wednesday, September 28th. The following proposals are among the changes submitted by the Tribunal Electoral (TE): 

- No new elections will be held in the event off the invalidity of a candidate or the disqualification of a declared winner. Rather, the runner-up will be placed in office (the person receiving the second-highest number of votes).

This proposal was made with the 2014 elections in mind. During the 2014 elections, several people were disqualified from taking office. Despite this, these candidates became eligible, and actually returned to office when the elections were held a second time.

- A reforms of the rates that media can charge for political advertisements

This proposal is in an effort to ensure candidates have equal access.

- The TE has included changes to Articles 190-G and 190-H establishing that candidates will be obligated to submit monthly reports on income and expenditure on private contributions they receive for financing.

- Each political party and their candidates will have the benefit of an advertising agency, parties with an electoral alliance may use one agency.

Magistrate Eduardo Valdes Escoffery of the TE explains that the proposals are in an effort to increase transparency.

Carlos Gasnell, of Transparency International, said that it remains to be seen whether or not the proposed changes can be debated in a non-partisan way.

Judge Heriberto Arauz explained that this is not a project for the Electoral Tribunal, but rather one which aims to create a more democratic country. “We recognize the power of the Assembly to legislate, but we hope that the Assembly respects this proposal in its entirety, under the principle of ensuring equity in the political campaign, greater participation, transparency and accountability.”