THE PRESIDENT of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, stepped into the burgeoning nepotism debate on Monday, April 20, and urged to all public institutions to comply with the provisions of the Code of Ethics covering bans on appointment of relatives in the same entity.

He said under his rule things, are being corrected after being questioned about recent reported cases of nepotism in institutions and ministries.
"I will respond through the Executive," Varela said, when asked about what he thought of the allegations of nepotism against the Judge of the Elections Tribunal, Erasmo Pinilla
His statements came during a ceremony to honor members of the National Police.
The president also said that the Executive and began the process of electing a new Supreme Court and that "an announcement will soon be made."