Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PANAMA372
2009-05-07 22:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Panama
Cable title:
PANAMA: MARTINELLI MAKING PROGRESS ON CABINET
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C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000372
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: MARTINELLI MAKING PROGRESS ON CABINET
Classified By: Ambassador Barbara J. Stephenson for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
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Pres-Elect Martinelli's Cabinet Takes Shape
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C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000372
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: MARTINELLI MAKING PROGRESS ON CABINET
Classified By: Ambassador Barbara J. Stephenson for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
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Pres-Elect Martinelli's Cabinet Takes Shape
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¶1. (C) Four days after his May 3 landslide electoral victory,
Panamanian President-elect Ricardo Martinelli has made
significant progress naming his cabinet. On the evening of
May 6, Panama's Electoral Tribunal (TE) formally declared
Martinelli the victor in the May 3 after analyzing every vote
tally sheet. His "Alliance for Change" (Alianza por el
Cambio) coalition also took 42 of 71 National Assembly seats,
guaranteeing it a wide majority with a few seats still to be
assigned. As of the morning of May 7, post believes that the
following members of his complex four-party alliance have
been tapped for ministerial positions in the Martinelli
Administration:
-- Minister of Foreign Affairs: VP Juan Carlos Varela;
-- Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs: Meliton Arocha;
-- Minister of Government and Justice: Anibel Galindo;
-- Minister of the Canal: Romulo de Roux;
-- Minister of Industry and Commerce: Roberto Henriquez;
-- Minister of Public Works: Ricardo Quijano;
-- Minister of Social Development: Guillermo Ferrufino;
-- Minister of Housing: Carlos DuBois;
-- Minister of Economy and Finance: Alberto Vallarino;
-- Vice Minister of Economy and Finance: Frank De Lima;
-- Director of the National Police: Gustavo Perez;
-- Director of Immigration: Maria Cristina Gonzalez.
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Comment
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¶2. (C) Martinelli has moved quickly to designate the most
important positions, which bodes well for his ability to
prepare a smooth transition of power. Post does not expect a
formal presentation of the full government until Tuesday, May
12, but we are already reaching out to those whose
appointment we have confirmed to brief them on key aspects of
the bilateral relationship.
STEPHENSON