Whereas back in the US, we have the first ever former President facing criminal charges, here is Panama we have a veteran of these wars on his resume, and he keeps on coming strong.

While you have Gaby Carrizo trying his best to wash the slime of him, often carrying his kids around with him. The shot at Martinelli has always been personal of nature as well. I think it;s that way for all Panamanian Prez elects.

But throughout much of the flash fire and shrapnel coming his way in recent years, the ever respected Marta has been keeping a low profile. Her hand in hand with Ricardo is a boon to the RM party, and further proof that Martinelli has been in this game much longer than others.

The possibility of a conviction against former President Ricardo Martinelli, for the so-called New Business case, which disqualifies him from running in the presidential elections of May 5, 2024, forces the former president to have a plan with an ace up his sleeve. ‘ so that the Realizando Metas (RM) party has as its presidential standard-bearer and the vice-presidency of the Republic, figures very close to their entourage or extremely trusted.

And one of the moves in this political chess, which according to sources within the party is not ruled out, is the possibility of running the former president’s wife, the former first lady of the Republic, Marta Linares de Martinelli, as a presidential candidate.

But in this case, former President Martinelli, who was already elected in his party’s primaries as its presidential standard-bearer, would have to give up his candidacy and the party would have until October 29 to make a new application for this position.

Another option, according to those close to the RM party, lies with the figure of the young businessman David José Virzi Martinelli (the former president’s nephew), who is currently the party’s second vice president, and who could be on the party’s payroll as a candidate for the vice presidency of the Republic, having Ricardo Martinelli as standard bearer, in case of not being disqualified.

Marta Linares and Ricardo Martinelli, as a sign of victory

Marta Linares de Martinelli, contrary to alleged rumors of estrangement with the former president, participated in the presidential primary elections of Realizando Metas on Sunday, June 4, and attended the event at the El Panama hotel, where, after her election, the Ricardo Martinelli’s presidential candidacy.

In the act, both, holding hands, raised their arms in victory.

“If they noticed, in the act of Sunday, June 4, they began to bring Mrs. Marta to the fore, since they are preparing her in case Ricardo Martinelli is disqualified. Marta could even be the figure to negotiate with the government a probable resignation of Martinelli from his candidacy, if there is a possible rapprochement, ”said the source.

But if Martinelli runs for President, the vice presidential candidate could be David Virzi Jr.

“If Martinelli does not run, the presidential candidate would be Marta Linares; He doesn’t trust anyone else,” said the RM source, who pointed out that the former president needs trusted figures for these positions.

It would not be the first time that the wife of former President Martinelli is on a presidential payroll, since she already had a first experience in her political journey as a candidate for the vice presidency of the former presidential candidate for the Cambio Democrático (CD) party, José Domingo Arias, who was defeated in the elections of May 4, 2014 by the Panameñista Juan Carlos Varela.

Who is David José Virzi Martinelli?

The businessman and economist David José Virzi Martinelli was the national coordinator of the Youth of the Realizando Metas party and is a founding member of this party, in which he currently occupies the second vice-presidency.

Virzi Martinelli, who until now has kept a low profile in political matters, at least publicly, is the son of one of President Martinelli’s sisters, whose father is David Virzi, former governor of Veraguas.

“Today in the presidential primaries has been a great day for @somosrmpa, especially for our beloved province of Veraguas. Officially our candidate @rmartinelli ready to win in 2024, to restore dignity and hope to all Panamanians”, Virzi Martinelli posted on Sunday June 4 on his Twitter account, after the victory in the primary elections of the presidential candidate of Realizando Metas , Ricardo Martinelli.

Camacho: “Our proposal is Ricardo Martinelli”

When asked about the issue, the spokesman for former President Martinelli and general secretary of the Realizando Metas party, Luis Eduardo Camacho, stated that there is no plan b.

“Our proposal does not seek to lead a person to the Presidency of the Republic, our proposal seeks to lead a person who restores hope and the reality of a better life to Panamanians. That person for us is Ricardo Martinelli and because of that reality, our plan a, b, c, d, e, until now, is and will continue to be Ricardo Martinelli”, he exclaimed.

He argued that for the Realizando Metas party, the disqualification of former President Martinelli is not on the horizon for legal or political reasons.

“We are not willing to allow political decisions to disqualify Ricardo Martinelli from being our presidential candidate, and we have said it very clearly, we are going to face him in the streets,” he warned.