BRIEFS. politics

"El Toro" supports Navarro for president

The campaign to become the next presidential candidate for the Partido Revolucionario Democrático (PRD) has taken a new turn. Former president Ernesto "El Toro" Pérez Balladares and his followers have decided to support the candidacy of fellow party member and current mayor of Panama, Juan Carlos Navarro. Party primaries will be held next Sept. 7.

"I'm glad that my team's evaluation has led to supporting Juan Carlos Navarro, a man who has the necessary preparation, the experience, and a team of men and women who have accompanied him for many years, said a smiling Pérez Balladares, minutes after his ex-campaign chief, Priscilla Valenzuela, announced that his supporters were in favor of backing the mayor.

Pérez Balladares made the announcement at the Casa de Marisco restaurant, after lunch and a meeting called to analyze the the PRD's political situation. His supporters there greeted the news with euphoric shouts and applause. The former president said his team would be integrated into the Navarro campaign.