Exhibit K
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REPUBLIC AS OF JULY 17, 2019
The information included in this document supplements the information about the Republic of Panama (the “Republic” or “Panama”) contained in Panama’s annual report for the year ended December 31, 2017, on Form 18-K filed with the Commission on September 28, 2018, and amended on October 26, 2018 and April 4, 2019. To the extent the information in this Exhibit K is inconsistent with the information contained in such annual report, as amended, the information in this Exhibit K replaces such information. Initially capitalized terms used in this Exhibit K have the respective meanings assigned to those terms in such annual report.
Political Developments
On February 15, 2019, the board of directors of the Panama Canal Authority (“PCA”) elected Ricaurte Vasquez as the new administrator of the Panama Canal; he is expected to take office when the current administrator’s term ends in September 2019.
On March 12, 2019, Moody’s Investor Services upgraded the Panama Canal’s rating to A1 with stable outlook.
On April 4, 2019, the National Assembly ratified Jorge González as a member of the board of directors of the Panama Canal.
On May 5, 2019, general elections were held in Panama. In the presidential elections, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen of the PRD party was elected president of the Republic with approximately 33.35% of the votes. In the National Assembly elections, the PRD won 35 seats, Cambio Democratico won 18 seats, Partido Panameñista won eight seats, MOLIRENA won five seats and five independent candidates won seats.
On June 4, 2019, the Fiscalia de Cuentas found Edwin Cardenas, the former director of the Instituto de Mercadeo Agropecuario (“IMA”) guilty of negligent use of IMA’s funds and fined him U.S.$5.6 million.
Following his departure from office in 2014, former President Martinelli was investigated for various crimes including alleged wiretapping and embezzlement. He was extradited from the United States on June 11, 2018. On June 12, 2019, a trial court granted bail to former president Martinelli, who will be held under house arrest, pending his criminal trial for alleged illegal wiretapping. Other individuals in President Martinelli’s administration, including some former cabinet ministers, have been investigated and prosecuted and some of those investigations continue.
On July 1, 2019, the new government was inaugurated for a five year term. The ruling PRD party, in alliance with MOLIRENA, holds a majority in the National Assembly.
On July 1, 2019, Hector Alexander was appointed as Minister of Economy and Finance, David Saied was appointed Vice Minister of Economy and Jorge Luis Almengor was appointed Vice Minister of Finance.
On July 1, 2019, Alejandro Ferrer was appointed as Minister of Foreign Relations and the Vice President, Jose Gabriel Carrizo Jaen, was appointed as Minister of the Presidency.
On July 8, 2019, President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen announced that investigations into corruption allegations connected to Odebrecht’s activities in Panama continued. In March 2017, Odebrecht agreed to cooperate with Panamanian authorities in relation to corruption investigations, including the payment of a U.S.$220 million fine. More than 80 individuals, including two sons of former President Martinelli, have been targeted in relation to the Odebrecht investigations. The investigations are currently sealed.