Today's News: Government calls for dialogue amid intense protests
Panama is experiencing a day of high tension due to the intensification of protests and road closures in various parts of the country. The National Government has called for a dialogue table this Thursday to seek solutions, while transport services to the interior are paralyzed. Additionally, registrations have been opened to access fuel subsidies.
The National Government and various organized groups are summoned to a dialogue table this Thursday, July 14, at 3:00 p.m. at the City of Knowledge (an academic and business complex in the capital). The Catholic Church will act as a mediator in this meeting, which aims to curb the social crisis. This call comes after an afternoon of heavy clashes at Plaza 5 de Mayo, where riot police used tear gas against protesters, resulting in several arrests. The United Nations (UN) in Panama has urged authorities to reach effective consensus to restore calm.
Mobility in the country has been severely affected by the blockades. Routes connecting Chame with the province of Chiriquí remain paralyzed, forcing the Albrook Grand Transport Terminal—the country's main bus hub—to suspend most of its departures to the interior. This situation has left hundreds of travelers waiting for the roads to reopen.
In the economic sphere, the Government Innovation Authority (AIG) provided details on the registration process for the "Solidarity Fuel" program. This program seeks to alleviate the cost of gasoline for citizens. The entity's administrator, Luis Oliva, explained that those interested must complete a form on the official government platform to receive this economic benefit at service stations.
On the other hand, journalism guilds in the country have formally requested that the Odebrecht case hearing be public. The National Journalism Council and other organizations demand transparency in this judicial process, which investigates an international bribery network, to ensure true accountability to the public.
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