Ricardo Martinelli the first Panamanian to run for a popular election candidacy from jail joins a unique band of Latin Americans with the gall to seek office while accused of major crimes.

Panama’s  Constitution and the Electoral Code allow it, as the former president, charged with illegal wiretapping and embezzlement, for which he could draw a 21-year sentence presses ahead.

Similar cases have been registered in Peru, Mexico, and Brazil reports La Prensa

In the 2016 elections in Peru, Gregorio Santos, of the Direct Democracy party, was a presidential candidate from the Piedras Gordas prison, in Lima,

Santos, who was governor of Cajamarca between 2011 and 2014, at the time of running was investigated for crimes of collusion and illicit association to commit a crime.

In Mexico, during the July elections this year, from prison, Alfonso Miranda Gallegos, and Francisco López Villafranca won the mayoralties of Morelos and Tamaulipas, respectively.

The first has charges of kidnapping and organized crime. The second for homicide and criminal association.

The former president of Brazil, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, launched his candidacy for the presidency of his nation in August from Curitiba prison following the Lava Jato case.

However, Lula who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for corruption and money laundering was denied the possibility of returning to power by t the Superior Court of Brazil.

In Panama Martinelli got the nod on Sunday from some of the 11%  of CD members who bothered to turn out for the primaries to run for deputy for the circuit 8-8.

It revives the debate on the interpretation given to the term electoral residence and the advantages that gives the political class.

Article 153 of the Constitution says that one of the requirements for a deputy is "being a resident of the corresponding electoral circuit for at least one year immediately prior to the application ".

Martinelli has been behind bars in the US  and Panama since  June 12 last year.