Thanks to the reforms that are being introduced by the deputies the Political Constitution, this will no longer be ours, but that of the Flintstones writes Rolando Rodriguez in a La Prensa Oped. Do the deputies bet that Panamanians do not know how to read between the lines that they eliminate or introduce? writes Rolando Rodriguez in a La Prensa Oped.

 It seems that they do everything possible so that the project is rejected when it has to be approved in a referendum. That means we will have to keep what we have. And whatever the scenario, it implies setbacks. But, maintaining the current one, at least, we will not jump into the void.

Let's examine one of the proposals. It was approved last Thursday, amid smoke bombs. The proposal was to modify article 4 of the Constitution, which currently says: "The Republic of Panama complies with the norms of international law." The new thing is that they add a few words that have an unprecedented impact. The new article would say the above, but with the following addition: "... however, the superiority of national law is recognized."

With less than ten words, Edison Broce, Zulay Rodríguez, Leandro Ávila, Corina Cano and Héctor Brands, among others, intend to convert international treaties into norms that may or may not be fulfilled, given that Panamanian law would be above international.

We would not know, for example, the decisions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights if we felt like it, because the local decisions have superiority.

Nothing would force the State to pay compensation or abide by its judgments. This is comparable to a tacit waiver of those treaties.

The last link of justice to which Panamanians have access - the Inter-American Court - would be cut off by a mob of unscrupulous robbers, whose consequences are unlimited and unknown, although we can be sure that it will not be good for the country, as we would be isolating from the world

I simply cannot believe that these changes are made without measuring consequences. Precisely, to know them, I am inclined to think that there is a deliberate desire for these reforms to fail even before their birth. These are experienced deputies, with knowledge on the subject, and whose main function is to create and pass laws. There can be no supine ignorance when we all know that they do not take a step without knowing where they will take the next one.

I conclude that the reform process is an unforgivable waste of time. It is the unconfessable desire that things remain the same or make the President look bad because the deputies well know that reforms such as these, and others equally crazy, are the unquestionable guarantee of its amendments rejection.