Panama is moving ever closer to joining MERCOSUR, the common market of South America, which includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela (the latter suspended since 2016).
In July, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino accepted a proposal to begin the process of integration into the common market after attending a meeting of the group’s heads of state in Paraguay. The National Assembly has now begun the process of analyzing this possible entry.
This was confirmed by the newspaper La Estrella de Panamá, which explains how the Second Vice President of Parliament, Jamis Acosta, said that the Assembly is committed to its role to promote dialog that will strengthen and consolidate the bonds of friendship with other countries. He also emphasized that the National Assembly is ready to support the initiative of the President of Panama for the country to become part of the common market as an associated country.