The plenary session of the National Assembly approved this Tuesday in the third debate the project of law 329, which regulates situations of conflict of interest in the public function, after accepting the recommendations made by the Executive Body that partially vetoed this initiative promoted by the deputy Gabriel Silva.
The project was approved with 56 votes in favor, 0 against and 0 abstentions.
The President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo, at the beginning of July, partially objected to articles 3, 6, 8, 13, 21 and 22 due to inconvenience and articles 20 and 25 as unenforceable and returned them to the National Assembly.
The veto emphasized that the Republic of Panama adopted the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, signed in Caracas, Venezuela, on March 29, 1996, and was ratified by Law 42 of 1998, as well as the United Nations Convention against Corruption, approved by Resolution 58/4 of October 31, 2013, adopted through Law No. 15 of 2005, which contemplates norms, measures and regulations that the States can apply to reinforce their legal framework against corruption.
In this sense, it was indicated that it is the duty of the Panamanian State to adopt measures aimed at strengthening the existing regulatory framework, in response to the commitments acquired in the anti-corruption Conventions signed and ratified, in order that these aspects are addressed in an integral manner, considering the best existing practices in comparative law and observing all forms of corrupt behavior known so far, both locally and internationally.
In this regard, the Committee on Government, Justice and Constitutional Affairs of the Assembly, gave the feasibility corresponding to Bill 329, approving the report of partial objection due to inconvenience and unconstitutionality to the proposed rule, which was then passed to the plenary session for approval. final.
Deputy Gabriel Silva, proponent of the norm, said he agreed with the recommendations given by the Executive and, at the same time, gave an explanation of the 8 articles that were vetoed by the President of the Republic. In addition, he agreed with the corrections made by the group of legislative advisers.
He described this initiative as an essential tool to combat corruption and that officials look after the interests of the country and not their own interests.
“We hope that President Laurentino Cortizo will sign it, as he promised in the campaign,” he said.
