The proposal that allowed condemned natural and legal persons to be donors of political campaigns, and the one that increased the campaign caps for president and other popularly elected positions, were withdrawn from the package of Bill 544 that Reforms the Electoral Code of Panama.

The initial proposal indicated that donations or economic contributions, from natural or legal persons who at the time of the donation are contractors or concessionaires of public services of any entity of the public sector, are prohibited, as well as that of any company belonging to the economic group from a public sector contractor or concessionaire.

Likewise, donations or financial contributions from natural or legal persons convicted with an enforceable sentence were prohibited for crimes against the public administration, illicit drug trafficking, illegal mining, illegal logging, human trafficking, money laundering or terrorism.

However, a proposal by deputies of the ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD, prohibited these donations only if the convicted have not served their sentences; and eliminated the prohibition of contributions from companies of economic groups of a public sector contractor or concessionaire.

For the deputy of the independent bench, Juan Diego Vásquez, this initiative would allow drug traffickers to finance political campaigns.

On the other hand, the proposal presented by a group of deputies to increase the campaign cap for the office of President of the Republic from B / .10 million to B / .20 million, and from B / .300 thousand to B /. 500 thousand for deputy, was also eliminated.

This Thursday the first block of electoral reforms was approved in the Government, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Commission of the National Assembly. Today articles 1 to 75 were addressed, and next week it is expected to debate from 76 to 119.