In addition to electing ruler for five years in elections in a single round and by a simple majority, 3 million of the 4.4 million Panamanians were called to elect 71 deputies and local governments.
In addition to electing ruler for five years in elections in a single round and by a simple majority, 3 million of the 4.4 million Panamanians were called to elect 71 deputies and local governments.
Panamanians voted this Sunday to elect president in elections marked by the influence of former President Ricardo Martinelli, convicted of money laundering and whose dolphin, paradoxically, is favorite to govern a country overwhelmed by corruption.
Inheriting Martinelli’s popularity, the 64-year-old right-wing lawyer, Jose Raúl Mulino, figured in the polls doubling the support of his three immediate rivals.
Former Social Democratic President Martín Torrijos, former Foreign Minister Rómulo Roux and former consul Ricardo Lombana, from the centre-right, sought the anti-Martinelli vote.
After nine hours of voting, with a large influx of voters, the polls closed at 16h00 local (21H00 GMT), and vote-wringing began. “I call on everyone to accept with patience, prudence and responsibility the results of this election,” said the president of the Electoral Tribunal, Alfredo Juncá.
Of a strong character and canoe hair, Mulino relieved Martinelli as a candidate of the party Making Metas (RM, acronym of the former president), after he was disqualified as a candidate after a conviction was confirmed against him for almost 11 years.
Mulino voted early, in a swarm of journalists, and then visited Martinelli at the Nicaraguan embassy where he went to asylum in February to avoid prison. “Brother” and “We’re going to win,” they said when they hugged in an embassy room, according to a video Martinelli posted on social network X.
One point that keeps the country in jeopardo, justice endorsed, just two days after the vote, Mulino’s candidacy, which had been challenged for not having passed through primaries or having vice president on the payroll.
In addition to electing ruler for five years in elections in a single round and by a simple majority, 3 million of the 4.4 million Panamanians were called to elect 71 deputies and local governments.
Feds of corruption
Panama, a country without left-wing parties, the candidates made similar promises: bulk jobs, economic dynamism and anti-corruption reforms. Panama has to change, there’s too much corruption. We’re tired,” said Jennifer Navarro, a 50-year-old teacher.
However, President Laurentino Cortizo, of the majority Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD, Social Democrat), is booed by the scandalous payment of juicy scholarships to politicians and their families. The official candidate, José Gabriel Carrizo, was always very low in the polls.
However, Martinelli, also accused of telephone espionage and bribery of the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, is popular because of the economic boom that the country experienced in its government (2009-2014), driven by large infrastructure works. Panama advanced. Anyone who does not accept it is very scoundrel,” Alberto Cedeño, a 41-year-old employee of the free zone of Columbus, told AFP.
This article has been translated from the original which first appeered in El Salvador