President José Raúl Mulino made his first appearance at a formal press conference with national and international media where he touched on various topics of national interest.
Mulino explained that the government will make adjustments to contain spending and that rented vehicles are returning and that the cuts will not be in the investment area. He also spoke about companies that offer different services such as electricity, telephone and water, among others.
“Now when there is no electricity, someone will have to pay for the lack of electricity, some of the companies, but the ideal is that they adjust, that the service is provided and that all Panamanian people have access to electricity, telephone, fast internet and at good prices,” said the president.
Regarding financial aid, he indicated that a formula will be sought so that this money is paid to IFARHU, “We are in the process of analyzing all the aid that was given in the past to see the transformation of this aid into loans that become debts with IFARHU so that they pay like everyone else.”
On the subject of migration, President Mulino expressed his satisfaction with the meeting between the Foreign Minister and the Secretary of State of the United States, where progress was made in the conversations on migration, and he hopes that the repatriation of immigrants to their countries of origin will begin very soon: “I hope to have the announcement of the first air repatriation through our territory as soon as possible. I am very pleased that Costa Rica is interested in signing a similar agreement with the United States.”
Regarding the lawsuits against Panama by mining companies, the president said that “Panama is not going to sit down with a gun to its head and solve any problem. The Supreme Court overturned that contract and I cannot do anything against a court ruling.”
One of the most media-driven issues of the last few days has been the formation of the Budget Commission and I believe that the Executive cannot be held hostage by said commission: “I am not going to give up the power that the executive has to control the nation’s budget in a responsible manner. Only a government held hostage by an assembly like the one that happened can allow such an atrocity. This government will not allow it.”
