What Happened
An attorney for the National Assembly and staff member assigned to Deputy Alexandra Brenes said she will not withdraw the legal challenge filed before the Supreme Court of Justice against Comptroller Anel Flores over the decision to place a group of public employees on unpaid leave during an investigation.
Martita Cornejo, who is also among those suspended without pay, framed the measure as a form of pressure against lawmakers and staff linked to the Vamos opposition caucus. She rejected Flores’ criticism of how the affected workers recorded their attendance.
Attendance Dispute at the Assembly
Cornejo said she has worked since February 2 and that, during that period, a digital clock installed by Deputy Brenes was used to register attendance. She stressed that the device was not the official method established by the National Assembly, but said it had been used in the office where she works.
She also said she left work at 5:01 p.m. and argued that attendance controls for legislative staff are governed by the rules of the legislative career system, not by a device managed by lawmakers themselves. Cornejo said the explanation had also been confirmed by the attorney general for the administration during the comptroller’s review.
Political Tension Rises
Cornejo described the comptroller’s actions as an attempt to undermine the opposition, saying she and other members of Brenes’ team have been targeted for taking a combative stance and challenging legislative decisions they consider unconstitutional or contrary to current rules.
She defended the role of opposition in Panama and accused Flores of acting against political dissent. The clash adds to a growing confrontation between the Vamos bancada and the Comptroller’s Office, which has intensified in recent weeks.
Broader Context
Flores said he is keeping open investigations into the group of employees because he suspects they are not complying with working hours. Those affected work in offices tied to Vamos lawmakers, a bloc that has repeatedly criticized the comptroller since he took office in January 2025.
Vamos has also filed a complaint against Flores for alleged overreach of authority, turning the dispute into a broader institutional conflict between the opposition, the Comptroller’s Office and the National Assembly.