News today: National dialogue begins amid intense protests and closures
Panama is experiencing a key day with the start of a national dialogue to halt the protests affecting the country. While the government seeks agreements, clashes in the capital and road blockades toward the interior continue to disrupt mobility. Additionally, procedures for the fuel subsidy are being enabled, and guilds are calling for transparency in judicial processes.
This Thursday, July 14, at 3:00 p.m., the National Government and various social groups will meet at the City of Knowledge—a complex that houses international organizations and educational centers—to establish a dialogue table. The Catholic Church will act as a mediator in this meeting, which seeks solutions to citizen demands. The United Nations (UN) in Panama has urged both parties to reach consensuses that restore calm throughout the national territory.
On the streets, the situation remains tense. In the capital's Plaza 5 de Mayo, clashes were recorded between protesters and anti-riot units, who used tear gas to disperse the crowd, resulting in several arrests. At the same time, transportation toward the interior of the country from the Albrook Terminal remains paralyzed; routes connecting from Chame to the province of Chiriquí are suspended due to constant road closures.
In the economic sphere, the Government Innovation Authority (AIG)—the entity in charge of state technology—explained the process to access the "Solidarity Fuel" (Combustible Solidario). Citizens must complete a registration form on the official platform to receive this benefit, designed to mitigate the high cost of gasoline.
On the other hand, various journalism guilds have formally requested that the Odebrecht case hearing be public. The National Journalism Council and other organizations argue that transparency and accountability are fundamental given the public outcry for justice in this international corruption case.
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