The verdict from the Supreme Court is out: Martinelli will not run in the 2024 elections; he will go to prison and pay a fine.

PANAMA - In Brief 02 Feb 2024 by Marco Fernandez
Today, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal for annulment filed by Martinelli's legal team, marking the last opportunity for the former president to challenge the verdict of a 128-month prison sentence and a fine of USD$19.2 million for money laundering (in the "New Business" case) to purchase a newspaper in 2010 while he was president. This means that Martinelli will not be able to participate as a presidential candidate since the Constitution prohibits a person convicted of a willful crime with more than five years of imprisonment from being elected president. The Electoral Tribunal will take the necessary actions. Martinelli leads in the polls conducted in recent months. Now, his vice-presidential candidate, José Raúl Mulino, who was the Minister of Security during Martinelli's presidency (2009-2014), will be the candidate for his party "Realizando Metas" and its allies. Presumably, Martinelli will support Mulino from abroad, and less likely, from prison. The political campaign will start on Sunday, February 3, and Martinelli will not be directly competing. General elections will be held on Sunday, May 5.

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