What Happened
President José Raúl Mulino called on Comptroller General Anel Flores and Attorney General Luis Gómez Rudy to settle their differences after a public clash between the two top officials put pressure on key state institutions in Panama.
Speaking during his weekly press conference on April 16 at Ciudad de Las Artes in Los Llanos de Curundú, Mulino said he had spoken separately with both officials and heard their accounts. He declined to take sides, saying that as president he would not issue a legal judgment on the dispute.
“I have asked them to smooth over the differences that need to be smoothed over and keep working,” Mulino said. He added that both offices are important to public administration and to the investigation of crimes.
A Clash With Institutional Weight
The dispute between Flores and Gómez Rudy comes at a sensitive time for Panama’s justice and oversight institutions. The most visible episode occurred when Flores arrived at the offices of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office at Central Park on Transístmica Avenue, accompanied by Deputy Comptroller Omar Castillo and other officials.
According to the Comptroller’s Office, the visit was intended to check on the situation of auditors from the institution who were being interviewed there. The Public Ministry said the comptroller interrupted the proceedings.
The interview of the auditors is part of an anti-corruption investigation involving former Vice President José Gabriel “Gaby” Carrizo over alleged illicit enrichment. That case has placed both the Prosecutor’s Office and the Comptroller’s Office under public scrutiny because of their roles in oversight, evidence gathering, and criminal prosecution.
What Mulino Said About the Dispute
Mulino described the episode as unexpected and said it caught him off guard. He emphasized that he did not want to escalate the matter further.
“Up to there, I’m not going to get into a problem that truly surprised me just like it surprised you,” he said.
The president also noted that while he is a lawyer, he was speaking as head of state and not as a legal analyst. His message focused on preserving institutional continuity and avoiding a deeper breakdown between agencies that must work together in criminal investigations and public oversight.
Why It Matters
The confrontation has fueled broader concern in Panama about the balance between state powers. Civil society and political voices have warned that clashes between the Comptroller’s Office and the Public Ministry can weaken the rule of law and complicate anti-corruption efforts.
For the Mulino administration, the dispute underscores the need to keep institutions functioning while tensions remain high. The president’s call for both officials to move past their differences reflects an effort to contain the conflict and protect the credibility of the state’s oversight and prosecutorial systems.