Panamanian singer-songwriter Rubén Blades said that he will not stand as a free presidential candidate in the 2024 general elections in Panama, so as not to harm the independent party "another way" who sees options for victory.
In a letter published on their social networks "About Panama and the 2024 election"Blades indicated that, if he did so, to run again for the Presidency as in 1994, "would compete with the chance of victory for the new party ‘Otro Camino’ and that would weaken their candidate".
Blades also pointed out that he is not currently considering being part of any presidential payroll, despite the fact that, he assured, "I have received calls and requests for meetings in this regard and I have declined them, as I did not consider them appropriate".
For Blades, what is imposed in the current circumstances of the country with "a criminality infiltrated and associated with corrupt politicians"is that "all independents should close ranks around a single presidential candidacy in 2024, whoever is designated".
The singer went further and suggested that all candidates for independent deputies should register with the Otra Camino party, which is chaired by Ricardo Lombana -who was a presidential candidate in 2019-, "in order to present a common front".
"The independents should go prepared and united with a single purpose: to replace the patronage state. They should present and explain, in their respective electoral campaigns, a new administrative scheme. And the replacement of current norms and laws that favor corruption and the impunity of the corrupt. Everyone should arrive in their new positions with those proposed changes already drafted, including reforms to the legislative and judicial codes."Blades said.
The Panamanian Justice has been questioned for years for its rulings, either because of their content or because of their lateness, and faces accusations of corruption or partiality.
Since 2014, when the government of Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019) took office in July, the Public Ministry (MP) opened dozens of investigations for alleged corruption against almost the entire cabinet of the Ricardo Martinelli Administration (2009-2014), to to which the Odebrecht bribery scandal was added.
in front of this "difficult situation" of the country, Blades analyzes the political scenario, and highlights that the independent party ‘Otro Camino’, headed by Ricardo Lombana, has 46,615 members, while Ricardo Martinelli’s collective, "Realizing Goals" (RM), has 134,842 registered.
That difference in the number of registered in both groups, according to the singer-songwriter and film actor, "describes the current reality and questions us: does the country really want to end corruption and administrative mediocrity? Although at the moment everything tells me no, we independents must continue trying to change this situation with ideas and concrete proposals.".
Currently, he added, "our situation is difficult, with infiltrated criminality associated with corrupt politicians, with a significant percentage of the population accustomed to ‘what’s up for me today’, incredulous, disqualifying reason, devoted to appearances and with low self-esteem who does not believe in his ability to do something positive with his life, having been used to depending on the corrupt politician for decades".
"That is the reality that today electorally feeds Ricardo Martinelli and the traditional party"remarked Blades, who acknowledges that they consider him the “only one” capable of “competing and beating the former president and supermarket tycoon.”