Ron Paul-Style Candidate Wins Panamanian Presidency in a Blow Out!!!

[peaceandlove]

Ron Paul-Style Candidate Wins Panamanian Presidency in a Blow Out!!!

Posted by Don Rasmussen on 05/07/09

There is a festive mood in my office thanks to the incredible victory last weekend of classical liberal businessman turned politician Ricardo Martinelli of Panama. I work for the Libertarian Movement Party of neighboring Costa Rica and our own presidential candidate, Otto Guevera, spent the weekend in Panama with his close friend Martinelli as the votes were cast.

Thanks to a deep dissatisfaction with a lousy leftist government and fund-raising of US$35 million, Martinelli was able to mount an overwhelming media campaign peppered with populist slogans and libertarian policies.

Martinelli, who is being described in the English-language press as a conservative, explains that his party is neither of the left nor the right. His beliefs are, in fact, almost identical to Guevera's. He founded the Democratic Change Party of Panama as a way to shift the dynamics of Panamanian politics away from corrupt left wing and right wing traditional parties and in the direction of liberty. In the last election, in 2004, Martinelli received 5% for president. This time, he earned over 60% as Democratic Change with its allies also took control of congress.

Here in Costa Rica, our own champion of freedom, Otto Guevara, founded Libertarian Movement for the same reason. In the last election, Otto pulled almost 10% and many analysts see him as a wildcard who could, with a good and well-funded campaign, challenge for the presidency of Costa Rica.

Latin America may already be getting sick of the leftist swing that many countries have taken. Martinelli's win might indicate, as so many I talk to do, that this time, it will not be right-wing authoritarianism that replaces the left, but freedom and those that promise to defend it.

Photo: President-Elect Ricardo Martinelli (left) and Congressman Otto Guevara (right)


Source: http://www.campaignforliberty.com/index.php#17678

[orthodoxymoron]

This is great news! Freedom v Tyranny is a global issue. We the People of Earth need to unite on this one. Call it 'Continuity of Diversity'.

[Lorien]

Excellent!