President Ricardo Martinelli on an official visit to Veraguas on Friday, June 3,reaffirmed that the selection of the presidential candidate to represent the party he founded and funded, would be up to the members.

"I've been very clear on who decides that,  Ricardo Martinelli does not decide, " he told La Prensa.
He also refused to talk about the political pact with Panama's vice president, Juan Carlos Varela, who was presumed to be ruling party's presidential candidate for the 2014 elections.
"I no longer want to talk more about that, I’ve said all that I have to say” he said.
Meanwhile, Varela apologized via Twitter for the "unnecessary situation that has occurred in recent weeks."
After several days of silence, the Panamanista Party president also referred to the friction in what seems an increasingly fragile coalition. "The political future of the CD [Democratic Change] and Panamanista depends on the management of government, "he said.

"It would be a mistake to fall into the game  of advancing the campaign of 2014. The best plan for any government is working for the people.