Release.The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, announced today the designation of the former president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez, as ineligible to enter the United States, due to his participation in acts of significant corruption by accepting bribes in exchange for improperly awarding government contracts while serving as president and vice president.
This public designation is made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2023, which provides that, generally, current and former officials of foreign governments, over whom the Secretary of State has credible information of direct or indirect participation in acts of significant corruption or flagrant violations of human rights, they are not eligible to enter the United States, nor are members of their immediate family.
This is the second appointment of a former Panamanian president announced by the State Department, after the appointment of former President Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal in January of this year. These two designations reaffirm the United States’ commitment to combat corruption globally, as corruption anywhere in the world threatens the national and economic security of the United States and its allies. Corruption decreases the well-being and prosperity of the population by reducing the resources available to cover needs such as schools, hospitals and roads.
The Embassy of the United States in Panama will continue to support the efforts of Panamanians to curb corruption and strengthen their democratic institutions through our support for other initiatives such as the Task Force against Money Laundering and Corruption, civil society projects , and training for government and justice agencies.
