News
Wednesday 2nd July 2025.
July 1, 2025
Panamanian representative Jorge Herrera, from the 2-4 district (Coclé), was elected president of the National Assembly this Tuesday, July 1.
By a narrow margin of just three votes, Herrera was supported by a coalition seeking to block the candidacy of Shirley Castañedas, backed by the ruling Realizing Goals (RM) party and the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), who obtained 34 votes.
Outgoing President Dana Castañeda swore in Herrera as the new president of the Legislative Branch.
During the vote, RM representative Luis Eduardo Camacho thanked the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) for voting for Castañeda “despite being in the opposition.” “I congratulate the PRD for casting that vote, because it shows us that despite being in the opposition, they have the courage to recognize the merits of those who have them,” he asserted.
For his part, the deputy of the Vamos coalition, Jhonatan Vega, stated that “some who beat their chests that they are opposition, (…) are, inconsistent… shameless.” “Here there is a man who stands up and looks at them,” said Deputy Vega.
Although he acknowledged that his party isn’t perfect, he asserted that they are working toward an Assembly “with better professionals” and committed to institutional change.
As expected, Representative Eduardo Vásquez, of Democratic Change (CD), was elected first vice president with 68 votes in favor and 3 abstentions.
Likewise, Popular Party representative Eliécer Castrellón was elected second vice president with 58 votes in favor and one abstention.
Jorge Herrera was elected on May 5, 2024, as a representative for district 2-4 and, simultaneously, as mayor of Aguadulce, a position he had previously held for at least two consecutive terms. In the current legislature, he chaired the Municipal Affairs Committee during the first regular session and also served on the Budget Committee, one of the most influential committees in parliament.
Attorney General Luis Carlos Gómez asked ministers and directors of public institutions to become plaintiffs in proceedings involving embezzlement, corruption, and other crimes against public administration.
In a note sent to the administration’s attorney general, Gretell Villalaz, Gómez requests that she use her good offices to ensure that the ministers and directors of public institutions where irregularities in the handling of public funds have been detected become plaintiffs.
In a note dated June 27, Attorney General Gómez argues that the active participation of public institutions as plaintiffs in judicial proceedings that involve violations of their powers or resources strengthens the principle of legality and fosters a more active defense of the public interest.
Gómez believes that supporting action is essential to guarantee transparency, accountability, and the recovery of compromised state assets.
He also raised the need for the Attorney General’s Office to send notes to public entities recommending their intervention in these investigations into the mismanagement of public funds.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) is currently conducting several investigations into alleged irregularities in the handling of funds by the Ministry of Agricultural Development (Midas), the National Institute of Water and Sewerage (IDAAN), the National Development Council (CONADES), the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA), several municipal councils, and the National Decentralization Authority (AND).
There are also investigations related to the irregular handling of funds in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Mici), the Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning (Miviot), and the Ministry of Health (Minsa).
At the same time, there are investigations into mismanagement at the Institute for Training and Utilization of Human Resources (Ifarhu), the Panama Ports Company, the Land Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT), and several municipalities.
Last week, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office deployed 73 officers to conduct investigations and request information from public institutions regarding various investigations related to the embezzlement of public funds.
Hundreds of on-site inspections have also been conducted at the Public Registry, and audit reports have been requested from the Comptroller General’s Office to determine the impact on public funds.
According to data from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, at least 225 audits are still pending delivery by the Comptroller’s Office, representing an operational burden that delays investigations into crimes against public administration. In January of this year, the Attorney General’s Office had already formally warned about the backlog of 166 audits.
The general director of the Social Security Fund (CSS) , Dino Mon , reiterated that there are no plans to modify Law 462, which reformed the retirement and pension system and has been in effect since last March, despite the rejection of sectors such as teachers’ unions and social protests in Bocas del Toro.
In an interview with La Prensa , Mon reiterated that it has already been approved, that the CSS has no legislative initiative, and that the Executive branch has no plans to modify it. “We have to move forward as a country; there are more pressing issues, such as employment and the economy,” he emphasized.
The official lamented that misinformation about the true scope of Law 462 has fueled a wave of protests, including blockades, demonstrations, and clashes in the province of Bocas del Toro. “The new law doesn’t affect teachers. They fight to justify their movement,” said Mon , accusing some groups of manipulating social discontent for political or union purposes.
Mon emphasized that the reforms introduced by Law 462 put the country on a solid path so that future governments can continue strengthening the social security system and guarantee sustainable pensions for future generations. He also noted that the next step must be to work on economic growth and job creation to improve the country’s social and economic conditions.
The Minister of Economy and Finance, Felipe Chapman, expressed the willingness of the National Government and himself to participate in discussions on Law 462 of the Social Security Fund (CSS), which reforms the pension system, provided the National Assembly considers it appropriate.
” Deputies have the power, under the Constitution, to amend any law. If they invite us to talk, at least this minister will always be willing to listen and engage in dialogue ,” Chapman said.
However, he made it clear that a possible return to the solidarity system is not viable unless it can be proven that it can function sustainably in the face of global demographic change. ” If they show us that the pay-as-you-go system works in Panama, that it’s divorced from planet Earth and moved to planet Mars, I’d be happy to see it ,” the head of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) joked, emphasizing that international and local evidence points to the unviability of this model.
On another note, Chapman also addressed the situation in the province of Bocas del Toro, which has been affected by protests and blockades. He stated that the government is open to continuing talks with Chiquita and other companies in the banana sector, with the goal of finding solutions that will stabilize the region’s economy.
“ It is painful to see how good and noble Panamanians have been exploited through deception and manipulation. The national government has sent groups of ministers to talks on multiple occasions ,” he noted. He noted that modifications to the banana pension law have already been made as part of these efforts.
In addition, the minister reported that he is seeking resources from multilateral banks—preferably non-reimbursable—to support the reconstruction of Bocas del Toro, a province he considered to have great potential in tourism and agroindustry, especially in products such as plantains, bananas, and cocoa.
Finally, Chapman lamented the economic and social impact the blockades have had on the region. “ The loss to Bocas del Toro, in terms of the province’s economy, is enormous. And the human cost is unjustifiable ,” he concluded
In line with its commitment to sustainability and the protection of the environment and biodiversity, the AES Panama Foundation has joined a four-year Cooperation Agreement with the organization Marea Verde, formalizing its commitment as a partner of the Siete Cuencas project, one of the most important initiatives for solid waste mitigation in Panama City.
This agreement, aligned with the environmental pillar of the AES Panama Foundation, marks an important step in the collective effort to significantly reduce pollution in urban rivers that flow into the Bay of Panama, with a special emphasis on single-use plastic.
“At the AES Panama Foundation, we firmly believe in the importance of building partnerships to achieve sustainable and lasting impacts. The Seven Basins program represents a concrete opportunity to transform our environment and strengthen environmental education at the community level ,” said Miguel Bolinaga, President of AES Panama .
Siete Cuencas aims to stop solid waste—especially plastics—before it reaches the sea by installing floating barriers in the city’s main rivers: Juan Díaz, Tocumen, Matasnillo, Matías Hernández, Río Abajo, and Curundú. The program also includes the implementation of collection technologies, educational programs, and collaborative work with authorities, educational centers, communities, and businesses.
From January to May of this year, Marea Verde has managed to intercept more than 97,300 kilograms of waste before it reaches the Bay of Panama. Of that total, more than 4,350 kilograms were recovered for recycling, demonstrating the potential of this type of intervention.
“We are very excited and grateful to join the AES Panama Foundation in this effort to protect the rivers and the Bay of Panama. Together, we can make a difference for a cleaner Panama,” said Mirei Endara, president of Marea Verde .
The program also includes key environmental education components such as Wanda Educa, which works directly with schools in the watersheds, and La Casa de Wanda, an interactive center that has received more than 6,500 visitors in less than a year, 80% of them students. Both initiatives seek to raise awareness about the impact of plastic consumption and promote practical solutions from citizens.
With this alliance, the AES Panama Foundation reaffirms its commitment to long-term initiatives that contribute to the country’s sustainable development and the construction of more resilient and conscious communities.
The AES Panama Foundation is the executive branch of the AES group of companies’ social investment programs in Panama. Its mission is to improve lives through sustainable projects that drive the economic and social development of the communities where the company operates.