THE DECISION  of President Juan Carlos Varela to initiate a civic process to select the candidates to fill the vacant posts for magistrates of the Supreme Court of and using the  framework of the  State Pact of Justice is considered a positive step by Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (CCIAP) because “it contributes to deactivate the tensions that have preoccupied  society in recent months.”

But  with its endorsement, the Chamber adds some  sharply worded comments  on the performance of the  legislature,  those in high positions and expectations of the new judges  to avoid “shameful oblivion.”

The process, which had been proposed by the president himself his  electoral campaign, but had been sidestepped with his previous nominations,  invites the members of the Pact including civil society  to carry out a thorough analysis of the candidates, and civil society to be interested in the process to demand election and ratification of the most suitable people, with high moral standards.

“We suggest and hope that, in order to achieve this objective, the list of candidates to be analyzed by the members of the Pact will exceed the 10  recently announced candidates,” says a  Chamber statement issued on Sunday. April 8.

“Although  the process involves the State Pact for Justice, it is the President of the Republic who is called to exercise his  historic responsibility, which is historical; because it gives him the opportunity to correct course and take a transcendental step in the fight against corruption and impunity, since many of the errors of our justice have to do with the performance of those in high positions.

“ The differences that can occur in a necessary way between public powers correspond to the rules of the counterweights that command the democratic game in societies that are tolerant and respectful of participatory dissent.

“For this reason, it is also the responsibility of the Legislative Body to fulfill its function with strict adherence to the letter and the spirit of the Constitution. In turn, those who arrive at the office will be faced with the opportunity to honor such privilege with a performance that will bring them respect and gratitude, or the shameful oblivion of their fellow citizens and the Nation.”