Panama begins national dialogue amid intense protests and road closures
Panama is experiencing a decisive day with the start of a national dialogue to halt the protests affecting the country. While the government seeks consensus, road closures keep transportation to the interior paralyzed, and clashes are reported in the capital. Registration for the fuel subsidy was also enabled, and associations are calling for transparency in the Odebrecht case.
This Thursday at 3:00 p.m., a dialogue table will be established at the City of Knowledge —a complex that houses international and academic organizations in the capital— between the National Government and various social groups. The Catholic Church will act as a mediator in this meeting, which seeks solutions to the crisis. The United Nations (UN) in Panama urged authorities to find effective ways to restore calm in the face of intensifying strikes.
The situation on the streets remains tense. In Plaza 5 de Mayo, a central point near the National Assembly, clashes were recorded between protesters and anti-riot units, who used tear gas; the day resulted in several arrests. Additionally, the Albrook Transport Terminal —the country's main bus station— has most of its routes to the interior paralyzed, affecting trips from Chame to Chiriquí due to blockades on the Inter-American Highway.
In the economic sphere, the Government Innovation Authority (AIG) provided details regarding the registration form for "Solidarity Fuel." This program is a government measure to freeze or subsidize gasoline prices. The administrator of the AIG, Luis Oliva, explained the necessary steps for drivers to complete their registration on the digital platform and access the benefit.
On the other hand, various journalism associations requested that the Odebrecht case hearing be public. The National Journalism Council and the Journalists' Forum are calling for the judicial process in this international corruption case to be transparent and to include true accountability to the public.
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