Varela defends World Cup holiday

October 20th, during a tour of the Barú, district in Chiriquí, President Juan Carlos Varela continued to support his decision to declare Wednesday, October 11th (the day after Panama qualified for the World Cup), a public holiday.

“I am happy when the people are happy,” said Varela, Friday, when he was asked about a lawsuit presented to the Supreme Court by El Fundacion Libertad. The company, calling for the annulment of the executive decree which ordered the closure of private offices after the classification of the team.

The magistrates were asked to declare the decree signed by Varela and Labor Minister, Luis Ernesto Carles “null and illegal.”
In response to the lawsuit, Varela explained that he left the stadium on October 10th at 10:30 p.m. and at midnight cars were still not moving.“Those who question the free day decree do not know that many are up at 3:00 a.m. to arrive at work at 7:00 a.m. ”

“It was a difficult decision which I took,  – if I had to do it again, I would,” said the president.