A press release from the entity noted that TE’s Secretary General, Myrtha Varela, explained that the groups are at different stages of the procedure established by electoral law to obtain official recognition.

Varela stated that the groups that have already begun registering members are the Movimiento Radix (Radix Movement), the Partido Accion Ciudadana Independiente (Independent Public Action Party-ACI), and the Partido Nacional Humanitario (Humanitarian National Party-PNH).

These groups must reach the number of signatures required by law to legally constitute themselves as political parties.

Meanwhile, the Proyecto Panama (Project Panama-PROPAN), the Partido Autentico Nacional (National Authentic Party-PANA), the Partido Reconstruccion Ciudadana (Citizen Reconstruction Party-PRC), the Partido Transformacion Nacional (National Transformation Party-TN), and the Partido Nuevo Horizonte (New Horizon Party) submitted the required documentation to be recognized as political organizations in formation.

Once they receive the corresponding authorization from the TE, these groups can begin collecting supporting signatures.

Varela stated that 45,503 signatures are currently required, equivalent to two percent of the valid votes cast in the previous general election, for a group to obtain recognition as a legally constituted political party.

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