Members of the National Journalism Council, Forum of Journalists, Panamanian Broadcasting Association and the Industrial Union of Panama met on Thursday, August 1 with Deputy Zulay Rodríguez, to discuss the preliminary bills that she is pushing that could affect freedom of expression.

The organizations expressed their concern because the draft bills could have elements that threaten freedom of expression, including deportation for demeaning Panama.

Rodríguez, on the other hand, promised to eliminate article 13 of the immigration reform bill and said that a broad consultation process will be carried out to safeguard freedom of expression and business during the discussion of the draft bill to protect national musicians, which would entail the elimination of Law 11 of 1988. The bill included quotas for airing Panamanian music.