Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino rejected criticism from Chinese and Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday over a Supreme Court ruling that voided a long-standing port concession at the Panama Canal, arguing that the decision falls squarely within Panama’s constitutional and legal framework.
Mulino’s comments came after China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office issued a sharply worded commentary condemning the court’s decision to declare unconstitutional the concession held by Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison.
The full bench of Panama’s Supreme Court ruled last week that the concession violated the constitution, cancelling the company’s right to operate the ports of Balboa and Cristobal at the Pacific and Atlantic entrances of the canal.
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In a social media post, the Panamanian president stressed that Supreme Court rulings must be respected both domestically and internationally.
He framed the decision as part of the judiciary’s constitutional authority to review the legality of laws and contracts and rejected any suggestion of government interference or direction.
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“Panama is a state governed by the rule of law and respects the decisions of the Judicial Branch, which is independent from the Central Government. The Foreign Ministry will issue a statement on this matter and will adopt the corresponding decisions,” Mulino wrote.
