https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/politica/220730/martinelli-retira-candidatura-precandidato-presidencial-libre-postulacion

Former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) withdrew his candidacy as a presidential candidate for the free candidacy for the 2024 elections, after one day of presenting his papers to the Electoral Tribunal (TE).

“I decided to withdraw my candidacy as an independent because there is a loophole in the law and I do not trust the magistrates of the electoral court,” the former president wrote on Twitter.

Martinelli granted legal power to his lawyer Alma Cortés to make the request to the Directorate of the National Electoral Organization for the return of all the documentation that he presented on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at that address.

He also announced that he will run for the first of his party Realizing Goals.

Martinelli’s candidacy as an independent candidate generated rejection by some candidates for this position who are not part of a political party.

Eduardo Quirós, candidate for the presidency for the free nomination, declared in a statement that the presentation of nominations to the president of the Republic as independent candidates by two prominent members of political parties reveal, once again, the broken state of politics Panamanian.

The also candidate for the presidency for the free candidacy, the lawyer Francisco Carreira, said that he rejects the registration of political leaders of political parties as candidates for free candidacy, since in his opinion they seek to take refuge in the electoral criminal jurisdiction so as not to assume responsibilities.