After being discussed in the third debate, the Plenary of the Assembly decided to approve Bill 776, which modifies and adds articles to the Electoral Code of the Republic of Panama and includes the article on revocation of mandate to deputies.
This project was approved with 43 votes in favor, 10 against and one abstention.
During the debate, deputy Zulay Rodríguez assured that the revocation of the mandate is legal, and made reference to the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights in its article 23, numeral A, which talks about political rights.
“Political rights belong to the citizens who elect the authorities, not to the political parties,” he said.
For his part, deputy Gabriel Silva confirmed that the Independent bench voted against Law 776, “we made the decision after meeting and advising ourselves with constitutionalists.”
He added that in order to establish the revocation of the mandate and to give power to the citizen, it is necessary to modify the constitution and not pass a law that goes against what the Magna Carta establishes.
“Clearly for me it is unconstitutional,” he said, assuring that the deputies should not legislate for their benefit but for the benefit of the country and for the future of those to come.
With information from Yisell Arévalo.
