President Varela’s low popularity raises concerns

Government lacks transparency

 

Lack of transparency has become the Achilles’ heel of the government of Juan Carlos Varela. In the latest polls published in June, 76% of respondents consider that the government shows little or no transparency, compared to 19% who thought that it does. This shows a slight deterioration compared to the previous month’s results of 75% and 22%, respectively.

 

The government’s response to the latest figures has been an exercise in cynicism. Minister for the Presidency Alvaro Aleman declared that he would be 'delighted to discuss transparency in Panama with anyone who cares to do so'.

 

According to political analyst Jose Isabel Blandon, 'it is clear that for every percentage point that the government loses in its transparency ratings, its popularity also falls. Transparency has become the Achilles heel of this president: people do wonder if he’s telling the truth'. Economist Juan Jovane reinforced the same message, arguing that “there is a clear transparency deficit in this government'.

 

The handling of two recent scandals involving law firm Mossack Fonseca and the Waked business empire are a case in point. They have laid bare the highly politicized way in which justice is administered in Panama today.

 

On the one hand, the government did everything in its power to minimize the importance of the Panama Papers scandal brought about by the disgraced law firm. The government's actions have been seen as a way of protecting firm co-founder Ramon Fonseca Mora, who is a close friend of, and was ministerial adviser to, President Varela.

 

By contrast, the fall from grace of businessman Abdul Waked was met with a laissez-faire approach on the part of the Panamanian government, which allowed the United States treasury department to imperil over 6000 jobs.

 

There is a real risk that the government’s focus on judicial persecution may lead to social unrest.

 

“The Panamanian people do not like political persecution, and that is precisely what they have been witnessing for the past two years”, argued Mr. Jaen.

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That, coupled with the failure of government policies such as 'Safe Neighborhoods' (Barrios Seguros) would explain the fall in popularity of President Varela. “The government gave money to gang members, but in return public safety has deteriorated”, said Mr. Jaen.

 

For his part, political analyst Mario Rognoni forecasts that the government's popularity will continue to fall, since the president is not making the necessary changes. Mr. Rognoni believes that the president's lack of popular support will be detrimental to the candidacy of his own party in 2019: 'no one will want more of the same', he sentenced.

 

To make matters worse, the government’s communications strategy has been ineffective. As many as 51% of poll respondents rated the government's communication on the public health crisis brought about by the N1H1 flu epidemic poorly.

 

According to political analyst Jose Blandon, the latest results put President Juan Carlos Varela on the lowest rating of any president since the invasion. This is in spite of the impending inauguration of the expanded Panama Canal. 'The government has not been able to capitalize on such an important event by unifying the country behind it: instead, it has acted with pettiness against those were perceived to be as his political enemies'.

 

Mr. Blandon is of the opinion that 'the handling of recent scandals, especially that of businessmen Waked, with its potentially negative repercussions on thousands of local jobs, as well as rising food prices, poor public transport and a perceived lack of transparency, have all contributed to the fall in the president's popularity'.

 

“With ratings at such low levels, and with business confidence of 17%, we're close to facing a perfect political storm for the government", declared Mr. Blandon. The governability of the country comes into question in such circumstances, as does social cohesion. According to the political analyst, instead of fostering national unity just days from the inauguration of the Panama Canal, the government is carrying on with its partisan political discourse.

 

In this respect, the reaction of minister for the presidency Alvaro Aleman is telling. Instead of taking on board the legitimate criticism been voiced by the population, the minister chose to belittle the polling company.

 

Pointing out that this is the same polling company that had placed the ruling Panameñista party in third place during the 2014 election campaign, Mr. Aleman went on to say that 'all governments face a degree of discontent, since popular expectations are usually high, while the government's resources are limited, and social media tend to amplify such discontent';.

 

However, such explanations do not cut it. Experts point out how even political allies of the government are increasingly isolated by a president who does not listen. Even external allies such as the U.S. are reportedly struggling to understand the current Panamanian government’s actions.

 

Faced with one of the strongest banking crisis in living memory, many advocate a clear and supportive action on the part of the President.