Arnaldo Giuzzio, Minister of the Interior, gave interviews to various media outlets yesterday. The objective was to warn about a possible criminal complaint against Horacio Cartes, former President of the Republic (2013 – 2018).
In communication with 730 AM, the Secretary of State indicated that he will no longer tolerate attacks from the media that belong to Cartes. One of the latest publications stated that Giuzzio increased his assets by G. 1,200 million with the purchase of several ranches. This data was collected from one of his last sworn statements of assets (DD.JJ).
This publication can be considered the “last straw” for the Secretary of State. As a result of the new accusation, Giuzzio responded that Horacio Cartes has several irregularities in his asset declarations. And that he analyzes, file a criminal complaint against him.
In the first place, he highlighted that Cartes had announced in 2013 that he had the sum of G. 88 billion in cash. While a year later, in 2014, he announced that he owned G. 90 billion. The minister questioned that the former president must have reasons for these sums not to enter the financial system.
He also denounced the millionaire loans that he makes to various people and entities with promissory notes that do not record repayment dates. With this, Giuzzio affirms that it can lend itself to an extortion mechanism.
“We are analyzing filing a criminal complaint against former President Cartes for these inconsistencies. I could assume it directly, I haven’t defined it yet. For much less today there are people convicted and prosecuted, ”he said.
Among the people and entities cited by Giuzzio appears the Libertad club, which until 2018 had a debt of US$ 6 million with the former president. Also the sister of the former president, Sarah Cartes Jara, who received US $ 50 million. The latter occurred at the same time that the businesswoman acquired 90% of the shares of the Basa bank.
“When I say inconsistencies, I mean money laundering. He did an analysis of my affidavits. I defend myself as a citizen. The president (Abdo Benítez) asked me to do what corresponds, ”he expressed.
AREVALO
Martín Arévalo, national senator for the ANR, questioned Giuzzio’s statements. He ironized that, with this, the Secretary of State becomes a prosecutor.
“Evidently the attack made by the minister regarding Panama is totally political. Given the lack of support for Hugo Velázquez’s candidacy, they are using it as a tool to scare the Honor Colorado movement,” he said.
He considered that these statements only undermine the seriousness of the work he does at the head of the security portfolio.
“The President of the Republic promised during his political campaign that he was going to administer power with Colorados and not with people from other parties. He now suffers the consequences of not keeping his word. He promised us something and ended up doing the opposite, ”he questioned.
MARTINEZ
Esperanza Martínez, a national senator, urged that it not be “artificial games.” With “shootouts” that tend to predominate in electoral times.
“Just now they find evidence against Cartes. If they have the evidence they act. Not simply announcements and fights through the media of each sector, that justice be done and that it be taken seriously. Citizens are tired of attacks with impunity, I want to see concrete facts”, she stated.
CONTEXT
Last Friday, Arnaldo Giuzzio revealed that the Public Ministry of Panama requested the criminal and judicial records of former President Cartes.
This generated a lot of discomfort in politicians close to the former president, they want to accentuate the attacks against the minister during the last weekend.
