national

Torrijos criticized

President Martín Torrijos has come under harsh criticism from opposition leaders for his actions, or inaction, in the face of civil unrest and police violence in the country.

President of the Cambio Democrático party, Ricardo Martinelli, lamented the chaos that engulfed some parts of the city last Wednesday but said that the country was in disorder "because we have a president that does not make decisions and spends his time traveling."

Sergio González Ruiz, president of the Molirena party, condemned the obvious abuse of power and force displayed by the police in Colón. "I would remind President Torrijos that, because of actions like these, the people got fed up with abuses in the past and said enough to the then military government."

Torrijos responded by saying "It is one thing to show legitimate concern over the present situation in the country. It is another to fall into opportunism."

The president was traveling outside the city when he made the comment, inspecting a building whose contractor had not completed his work.