Vamos Coalition Loses Two More Deputies, Further Weakening its Assembly Strength

The Vamos coalition in Panama's National Assembly has seen its numbers dwindle further with the departure of two deputies, Neftalí Zamora and Manuel Samaniego. This latest exodus reduces the bloc to 15 members, a significant drop from the 20 it began with in July 2024.

The resignations come at a critical juncture as political factions engage in discussions for the upcoming election of the National Assembly's board of directors on July 1. These departures echo similar exits earlier this year, when deputies Manuel Cheng, Carlos Saldaña, and Betserai Richards also left the coalition.

Luis Duke, the deputy whip of the Vamos bloc, confirmed that Zamora and Samaniego chose to leave after the coalition's board decided to suspend them. "The two of them have resigned from the coalition and have issued their own statements expressing that they will go their separate ways," Duke stated.

Despite these setbacks, Duke asserted that the remaining members of the Vamos bloc are committed to upholding their core principles. "We who remain will stay united and focused on the work we were elected to do in the Assembly, prioritizing the country's interests above any personal gain," he said. The group plans to continue advocating for initiatives aimed at combating corruption, reducing the legislative budget, eliminating unnecessary staffing, and reforming the Assembly's internal regulations.

Meanwhile, fellow deputy Jorge González acknowledged the surprise surrounding Zamora and Samaniego's decision, expressing a desire for them to elaborate on their reasons. The bloc has not yet finalized its official stance on the upcoming board elections, with preliminary discussions just beginning. The departures of Zamora and Samaniego intensify the numerical reduction of Vamos at a crucial time for forming political alliances and allocating positions within the Assembly's 15 standing committees. Sources indicate that both deputies have already received offers from other blocs.