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Juan Barsallo re-elected head of San Miguelito Municipal Council
🇵🇦 Panama /Elections & Politics

Juan Barsallo re-elected head of San Miguelito Municipal Council

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Juan Barsallo was re-elected president of the San Miguelito Municipal Council for a second consecutive term.
  • Key priorities for his new term include garbage collection, water supply, and security in the district.
  • The council's political dynamics show a majority bloc of five councilors (two RM, one PRD, one Molirena, one independent) supporting Barsallo's leadership.

Juan Barsallo secured a second consecutive term as president of the San Miguelito Municipal Council, a vote that highlighted the existing political power balance within the deliberative body. Barsallo, a councilor for the Amelia Denis de Icaza district, identified garbage collection, potable water supply, and district security as top priorities for his upcoming term.

Barsallo's continued leadership is significant as he is the sole councilor from the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) to retain his seat in San Miguelito following the recent elections. The election results also underscored a division within the Municipal Council into two distinct blocs. Four councilors form an independent group, while a majority bloc of five, comprising two representatives from Realizando Metas (RM), one from the PRD, one from Molirena, and one independent councilor, holds the voting majority.

The Council makes its own decisions because it is independent, and we demonstrated that maturity.

— Juan BarsalloBarsallo defended the autonomy of the Municipal Council and asserted that its decisions reflect the will of its members.

Barsallo emphasized the council's autonomy, stating that its decisions reflect the will of its members. "The Council makes its own decisions because it is independent, and we demonstrated that maturity," he asserted. This political majority has ensured that the council presidency remains within this bloc since January 2025.

However, calls for greater transparency and openness in the Municipal Council's operations emerged from figures like the district's mayor, Irma Hernández, and the representative for Belisario Porras. Councilor Javier Valverde noted that the political divisions have been apparent since the current administration began, predicting the majority will continue to impose its decisions. Mayor Hernández acknowledged the political dynamics as challenging but praised the council's work. She expressed hope for increased transparency and a stronger ethical and democratic commitment from the authorities in the new term.

transparency and a greater ethical and democratic commitment

— Irma HernándezThe district mayor expressed her expectations for the new term regarding the conduct of the authorities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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