'Politics in Panama' Politics

Sweetness from Earth, the Universe (Contact Member) -

With four successive elected civilian governments, the Central American nation of Panama has made notable political and economic progress since the 1989 U.S. military intervention.

This intervention ousted General Manuel Noriega from poer and the current President Martin Torrijos, elected in May 2004 for a for year term has faced significant challenges including dealing with the funding deficits of the country's social security fund, eht development of plans for the expansion of the Panama Canal, which at the moment is in the starting stages and is upsetting a lot of the tourist cruise lines. However, this expansion with add a third lane and a new set of locks that will double the Canal's capacity when completed.

The United States has developed a close relation with Panama and a free trade agreement has been ongoing since April 2004 and has now come to a standstill.

Comment #1 RiverQueen from Universal Studios (Contact Member) -

Do you know why it came to a standstill? If it has been going on for three years and not come to fruition I would suspect that the U.S. is not really inclined to get into a free trade situation with Panama.

Do you think that they are still trying to develop a close relationship with them or are they in fact backing off?

Comment #2 Gwen (63.176.159.141) -

They are backing off due to the lack of involvement that is much needed in order to even begin to develop a close relatonship.

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