A bill to introduce a law that would jail people for  offending the president or any elected official is dead before even being discussed by Panama's National Assembly.

President Ricardo Martinelli vowed Monday, to veto the "gag law" if it is approved by the Assembly.

He said that it would be against the norm for the bill to receive the approval of legislators.
Martinelli spoke at the Democratic Change (CD) party headquarters, where a merger with the Patriotic Union is planned.
The bill, introduced by two  CD members would punish offenders with up to four years in jail, It has been rejected by multiple civil and journalism organizations and has been referred to the Organization of American States. It has received condemnation from around the world,
On, Tuesday January 11, meetings between newspaper unions and the board of the National Assembly were to have begun before the bill reached the Assembly.