First Post on 27th April reported that Panama’s electoral tribunal has ruled that former President Ricardo Martinelli, who is awaiting trial on wiretapping charges, cannot run in next month’s elections for mayor of Panama City and a seat in the Congress, but the politician vowed to retake the presidency in the following vote. Martinelli was extradited to Panama last June from the US to face a variety of charges. He had been living in the US since leaving Panama in 2015, his presidency term having ended in 2014. The tribunal ruling noted that if Martinelli had not fought extradition from the US, he would have returned to Panama in 2017. Martinelli has been charged with spying on 150 people, including politicians, union leaders and journalists, and embezzlement of public funds to finance it.
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