Draft bill 122.

Summary.

The draft bill proposes to prohibit the cult of personality surrounding politicians and businesspeople in the Republic of Panama. For national works of any kind, it would bar public servants and those who build the works from naming them after living persons. It would also bar names of political or business figures until ten years have elapsed since their death or since the historical events intended to be honored. Names associated with people who exercised or obtained public authority through acts of force contrary to the constitutional and democratic system would likewise be prohibited.

The naming restriction would cover ports, buildings, hospitals, schools, health centers, parks, neighborhoods, streets, avenues and other public infrastructure, among other places. It would extend to public benefit charitable or recreational establishments and to auxiliary construction or maintenance activities funded with public money. The bill also prohibits placing portraits, engravings, inscriptions, busts, sculptures, paintings, images, symbols, physical or digital photographs, or other representations referring to businesspeople, serving public officials, authorities, former public officials, political parties or political movements in public offices and spaces. Public institutions would also be barred from promoting a cult of personality around the head of the institution.

Regardless of rank or method of appointment or hiring, public servants would be prohibited from using state resources or property in the public or private domain to promote, celebrate, commemorate or pay tribute to their own image, ideology, political affiliation, political party or other personal attribute. On public infrastructure works, the bill would prohibit plaques, inscriptions and engravings bearing the names of public authorities who conceived, tendered, built, managed, completed or inaugurated them.

The National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information (Autoridad Nacional de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información) would be responsible for sanctioning heads of state entities who commit the violations described in the bill. The fine would equal half of their gross monthly salary, including representation expenses and any other fixed remuneration they receive. Any citizen could file a complaint with that authority without additional requirements or formalities. The bill also prohibits issuing coins or banknotes bearing the face of politicians or businesspeople on the front, back or both sides.

The bill would repeal Law 5 of September 30, 1910 and Law 33 of April 16, 1941, and provides that it would take effect on the day following its promulgation in the Official Gazette. Its provisions concern the National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information, other state entities, and the sectors involved in public works construction, charitable and recreational establishments, and the issuance of coins and banknotes.