Too Many Presidents

Panama last week found itself in the embarrassing position of having two Presidents. One was Marco Aurelio Robles, 62, the country's duly elected chief of state for the past four years; the other was Max Delvalle, 57, Robles' First Vice President. This tricky sit uation was brought about by the opposition-dominated National Assembly, which, seizing on an obscure clause in the country's constitution, accused Ro bles of giving illegal support to a can didate in the upcoming May 12 elec tions. Early in the week, the Assembly voted to oust Robles from office, and within an hour formally installed Del valle as Panama's 34th President.

Refusing to budge, Robles holed up in the presidential palace, conferred with his top aides and managed to win the crucial support of the country's 4,000-man national guard. On Delvalle's side was the powerful, five-party National Union coalition, which represents 75% of the popular vote -- based on the 1964 elections -- and is now led by the favored opposition candidate, Arnulfo Arias, 66, the wily politician who organized the ouster proceedings. Taking to television after Robles' refusal to step down, Arias called for "civil resistance." A few hours later, national guardsmen swooped down on his headquarters in Panama City, arrested more than 200 of his supporters and confiscated a small cache of weapons.

Angry Mobs. National guardsmen also surrounded the legislative palace, which Delvalle had announced he would use as a temporary office. When Delvalle arrived to take occupancy, a mob of supporters gathered to cheer him on. "I am the constitutional President and you should obey me," Delvalle told the officer in charge. "Please help me maintain order," the officer snapped back. From somewhere in the crowd, rocks began flying. With that, the troops fired off a volley of tear-gas grenades, Delvalle beat a retreat, and a full-scale riot erupted. For two hours, demonstrators swarmed through downtown streets, overturning vehicles, throwing rocks and building barricades.

Later there was a second riot, and 2,000 women staged an anti-Robles march. This week the Supreme Court is scheduled to meet and make a deci sion about the legality of the National Assembly's ouster proceedings. After that, the national guard, the final arbiter in Panamanian politics, will either stick by Robles, back Delvalle -- or step in and assume power itself.

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