Ricardo Martinelli: From leader to martyr?

My relationship, in this case indirect, with Ricardo Martinelli, It started during the 1960s. My mother’s stepfather had two food supply businesses in the Vista Hermosa Mall, owned by my mother’s family.

My mother witnessed on different occasions how two male children from Mrs. Gloria Fábregathey helped the mother load or unload packages from her vehicle, instead of being helped by one of their employees. Cecilia Álvarez admired the discipline so much observed and respect for that mother, which made her the model we follow in our home, in carrying out our responsibilities under that roof. Years later, I heard how one of those young men started his business life at the head of one of the largest supermarket chains in the country. Today, Super 99 provides jobs to thousands of Panamanians.

From a young age, I acquired a healthy interest in political events that went beyond our small republic. Through the story of my parents and great uncle, the owner of one of the most famous craft shops of that time, in the area Santana in Calidonia, tailor shop Cárdenas, I learned, among other things, about Porras, about the first student and nationalist movements for recovery Canal, about the murder of Remón and the trial that followed around that. My uncle Justiniano gave me a copy of a bound compendium, sponsored by his tailor shop, of all the Panamanian leaders up to that date. I felt the events of January 1964, the process elections won by Marco Robles, 1968 campaign, triumph Dr. Arias and the coup that followed. Needless to say, I grew up during a period of dictatorship.

In 1972, while returning from my first visit to the Disney parks in Florida with my mother and brothers, we met Arnulfo Arias at the Miami airport. That leader in exile shook my hand and showed interest in whether it existed enjoyed at Disney World. I remained silent, because that character evoked in me a mixture of admiration and fear. Almost two decades later, I was instrumental in supporting his last attempt at the presidency.

Coincidentally, what happened forty years ago seems to want to repeat itself today, “as history does in a spiral”. Four years later I began my short exile, until the early 1990s. Since then, I have participated with care, pride and respect in the service of the country, under three different administrations: that of Endara, that of Mosco and that of Martinelli.

In 2000, I finally met Ricardo Martinelli then minister of canalswho was in charge Management Board of the Maritime Administration. In my capacity as an advisor to the mentioned institution, I had the opportunity to speak with him on several occasions. Not knowing, I watched him out of the corner of my eye, silently thinking, “this is the same guy who inspired my mother to make my brothers and I become good citizens.” I slowly began to understand why this was so.

In the end it separates from Mirey’s rules and leads in 2004. in his first year of winning the presidential election, winning 3% of the vote. After that moment, one Sunday, while I was visiting a local advertisement in Costa del Este, together with my family and friend, I saw him again. He was alone, eating ice cream. A friend said to me, “Let me introduce you to the next president of the republic. I shook his hand. It was total deja-vu from the scene at the airport in 1972.

At the end of August 2007, after taking part in an intensive course in Miami, recommended by my friend Quique Fernández, on running political campaigns, I joined the ranks of the party founded by Martinelli. Many of those who later approached me feeling a my closeness with Ricardothey systematically mocked my support for him.

I used to be called a “loser” by these opportunists. I was actively involved in the processes before and during the campaign, until victory. I did it out of conviction.

My wife and I, each from our trenches, contribute our grain of sand. Then came the 2014 campaign. Unfortunately, many tactical mistakes were made.

Constant attacks on him began. Those who felt affected by his economic and political activities in the period from 2009 to 2014 began to demonize Martinelli. Within your own hidden agenda, Juan Carlos Varela, He is anointed as the Messiah who came to save Panama. His arrogance and thirst for revenge lead him not only to try to promote ignorance of his predecessor’s achievements, but also to release Witch hunt, unprecedented in the time of democracy, according to Martinelli, his family and associates of his administration. Ricardo is forced to leave the country, due to the lack of guarantees about his business and personal integrity and security. One by one, rigged trials begin against him, his family and friends, followed by the deprivation of liberty, in various forms, of many of them, as well as confiscation of property.

We see public ministry in servicee Varela, inquisitor. What must have been the disappointment of those who applauded him then, when they later saw his mask fall. And no one should be surprised that there are still those who justify it or at least do not attack and judge as was systematically done against Martinelli. As we all know, Ricardo not only spent time under lock and key, but was also betrayed and stripped of the party he founded.

Many do not seem to understand the Eastern concept of the legendary phoenix. She was burned and reborn from her ashes. This is the phenomenon that happens with Martinelli. He came out well, against all odds, from the first Judicial process against him. He registered and founded a new political group, which will soon push his old party out of second place. The last thing, neither to be in power. This is a strength that only a leader can show.

My mention of the handshake I gave Arias and Martinelli, He is raising their community as undisputed leaders. Martinelli remained in first place, as the favorite for the presidency. A grateful nation never turns its back on its leaders. It gave all Panamanians the opportunity to improve their quality of life.

Ricardo can bring them back again, after almost a decade of suffering. His opponents, inside and outside the government, were ready to make him a victim. They want to lock him up again to stop him from competing and winning. They created an account, thinking of him, to rob him. They planned to disqualify him, by ultimately not recognizing her spouse’s right to be a vice-presidential candidate. They would be willing to promote another fraud like those of 1984 and 1989. How stupid can you be to turn a leader into a martyr!