What Happened
Panama’s comptroller, Anel Flores, is facing a new wave of criticism after he and Deputy Comptroller Omar Castillo interrupted a fiscal anticorruption interview with two comptroller’s office auditors linked to the case against former vice president José Gabriel Carrizo for alleged unjust enrichment.
The incident has reignited debate over the separation of powers, the role of oversight institutions, and whether the comptroller has crossed the line from fiscal control into political interference. Public figures and civil society voices have described the move as an institutional intrusion that places the rule of law under pressure.
Political Fallout
In the National Assembly, deputies Alexandra Brenes and Yamireliz Chong sharply criticized Flores’ conduct. Brenes said he is accustomed to overstepping his functions, while Chong accused him of acting as he pleases.
The confrontation adds to a growing list of disputes surrounding Flores since he took office. His style has repeatedly drawn attention in dealings with lawmakers, municipalities, and political allies and opponents alike.
A Pattern of Clashes
Flores was also accused by deputies of pressuring the National Assembly on July 1, 2025, in an attempt to tilt the chamber’s leadership vote in favor of Shirley Castañeda. That effort failed, and Jorge Herrera of the Panameñista Party won the presidency of the legislature after building an alliance with Vamos, Seguimos, and other blocs.
After that episode, Flores threatened to release dossiers and résumés of lawmakers who criticized him, saying he had documents showing they had requested jobs for relatives. His words revived memories of similar political threats made years earlier from the presidency of the republic.
Disputes Over Oversight and Local Government
Flores also clashed with San Miguelito Mayor Irma Hernández earlier this year amid tensions over garbage collection in the district. He sharply limited the room for maneuver of his auditors in the municipality while the dispute over the contract for Revisalud was unfolding.
Later, in December 2025, his relationship with the Vamos caucus deteriorated further after he was questioned over discretionary transfers to municipalities linked to political parties including RM, the Panameñista Party, and Cambio Democrático. Flores responded by saying most Vamos deputies had not accounted for their management.
Why It Matters
The controversy has taken on added weight because Flores has recently been granted wider powers under Resolution No. 3126-2025, approved on September 23, 2025. The measure allows him to order seizures of assets and adopt other steps considered necessary to protect the public interest.
As the Prosecutor’s Office continues its investigation into the interruption of the auditors’ interview, the episode has become another test of institutional boundaries in Panama. President José Raúl Mulino has remained silent on the matter, even though he publicly praised Flores’ work the night before the incident at a Chamber of Commerce event.