Former President Ricardo Martinelli of Panama has been disqualified from running in the upcoming presidential election in May due to a 10-year sentence he received for money laundering. The decision was made by Panama’s electoral tribunal after a lengthy debate, citing his disqualification as a result of being sentenced to more than five years in prison for an intentional crime.
Despite Mr. Martinelli’s denial of guilt and claims of political persecution, the Supreme Court of Panama upheld his money laundering conviction last month. Following the ruling, the former president sought asylum in Nicaragua and is currently residing in its embassy in Panama City.
In response to Nicaragua’s request to allow Mr. Martinelli to leave the country, Panama’s Foreign Ministry cited an international agreement on political asylum that prohibits granting asylum to individuals who have been “duly prosecuted” for nonpolitical crimes. Mr. Martinelli’s spokesman criticized the tribunal’s decision as “illegal” and accused the body of procedural violations.
While Mr. Martinelli is barred from running for president, his running mate, José Raúl Mulino, has been permitted to take his place on the ballot. The decision has left a handful of other presidential candidates in the race, including Ricardo Lombana, a former diplomat who expressed support for the ruling on social media.
Despite his legal troubles, Mr. Martinelli’s supporters highlight his tenure as president, during which Panama experienced significant economic growth, including the expansion of the Panama Canal. The former president has faced previous criminal investigations, including charges of wiretapping and involvement in the Odebrecht bribery scandal.
As the political drama continues to unfold, Mr. Martinelli seems to be settling into life at the Nicaraguan Embassy, sharing videos of himself exercising and relaxing with his dog. In a social media post, he expressed optimism about the future, indicating that this chapter is just the beginning of his story.
