Panama's Electoral Tribunal Authorizes Recall Process Against Mayor Mayer Mizrachi

Electoral Tribunal Greenlights Signature Collection

Panama's Electoral Tribunal (TE) officially authorized the commencement of a signature collection process aimed at recalling Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi. The decision, formalized through a bulletin published on September 23, 2025, marks a significant step in the effort to potentially remove the mayor from office. The initiative was brought forward by citizen José Clemente Guardia Bernal, who is now tasked with gathering the necessary public support to advance the recall referendum.

Requirements for the Recall Referendum

To trigger a recall referendum, the petitioner, José Clemente Guardia Bernal, must collect a total of 217,322 signatures. This figure represents 30% of the 724,406 registered voters in the district of Panama, based on the final electoral roll from the May 5, 2024 general election. Mr. Guardia Bernal has been granted a period of 120 calendar days to complete this signature collection. Prior to the official start of signature gathering, designated activists involved in the process will undergo a mandatory two-week training period, which is anticipated to take place between October 6 and 7. The recall process operates under new provisions outlined in Decree 8 of July 2025, which mandates that signers must personally appear at a regional TE office, accompanied by the initiative's proponents, to ensure the validity of each signature.

Mayor Mizrachi's Stance and Historical Context

Mayor Mayer Mizrachi, who was elected by the Popular Party, has publicly dismissed the recall attempt as politically motivated. He characterized the effort as 'politiquería' (political maneuvering) and the work of 'dinosaurios de antaño' (old-guard politicians), suggesting it is an abuse of the system designed to impede his administration's work. This is not the first time Mayor Mizrachi has faced scrutiny. In July 2025, a complaint was filed against him with the National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information (ANTAI) regarding potential ethical violations and conflicts of interest. This complaint stemmed from an alleged direct contract with Towerbank International Inc., whose representative was a significant donor to Mizrachi's campaign, for services related to digital currency use in tax collection, reportedly without a bidding process. Furthermore, Mayor Mizrachi has a history of legal challenges, including his imprisonment in Colombia between 2015 and 2016 over an alleged contract breach with the Panamanian government concerning his company, Criptext. While a case of embezzlement was closed in 2021, he was later called to trial for money laundering in 2023. Mizrachi has consistently maintained his innocence in these matters, attributing them to political persecution.