politics

Minister Ferrer resigns his post

No reason was given for the ministro de Comercio e Industrias’ sudden decision to step down.

LA PRENSA

resigned:Minister Alejandro Ferrer (left) has stepped down.1000842

President Martín Torrijos has accepted the resignation of Ministro de Comercio e Industrias Alejandro Ferrer and is already considering applicants to replace him, presidential spokesman Erich Rodríguez Auerbach said yesterday.

Auerbach would not release the names of the candidates or discuss why Ferrer resigned.

The minister had led the government's effort to reach a free trade agreement with the United States. That agreement was on its way to being signed, but fell apart when Pedro Miguel González was elected president of the Asamblea Nacional.

González is wanted in the U.S. for allegedly murdering an American soldier stationed in Panama in 1992.

Numerous people in the U.S. government said that the free trade agreement would not be considered for adoption until González steps down.

While that is expected to happen later this year (González isn't running for re-election), Ferrer's resignation may have a negative impact on the process.

The president of the Asociación Panameña de Ejecutivos de Empresa (Apede), Juan Carlos Mastellari, said that the resignation is "unfortunate," and that it might further complicate the ratification of the agreement, which has been stalled.

"Ferrer was an important leader in the ratification process. Changing ministers at this stage of the process will complicate matters further," he said. La Cámara de Comercio issued a statement urging that care be taken in picking Ferrer's replacement.

"The government is losing one of its most valuable members, and will have to find a negotiator of the same stature as Ferrer," the organization said.