On 14 July 2022, demonstrators gathered for a ninth consecutive day in the capital Panama City to protest the rising cost of living in the country. Police officers deployed tear gas in an attempt to disperse protesters who had gathered in the Nueva Esperanza area. There were no reports of casualties. Protesters have clashed with police officers and blockaded highways for several days to demand that government officials address rising inflation rates. The demonstrations have continued despite a 14 July government mandate that froze fuel prices. Leaders of the main groups organizing the protest actions — including the National Union of Construction Workers (Suntracs) and the Ngäbe indigenous tribe — have accused authorities of negotiating with unions not involved in the current demonstrations. Organizers are likely to continue their protests despite government concessions.