Confirming the polls, José Raul Molino emerged as the winner of the presidential elections held yesterday in Panama.
The conservative politician replaced former president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) in the polls of his opposition faction, after the latter was irrevocably convicted of corruption and money laundering and took refuge in the Nicaraguan embassy.
Around three million voters were called yesterday to elect a new president, renew the composition of parliament and elect local elected officials. Presidential elections in Panama are held in a single round and a simple majority is enough for a candidate to win. Participation was high, over 77%.
With more than 34% of the vote, the 64-year-old lawyer prevailed by nine points over his main rival, center-right lawyer Ricardo Lobana, who was quick to admit defeat.
“I am pleased, on behalf of the electoral court, to inform you that you have won the presidency of the Republic” of Panama, said the body’s president, Alfredo Junca, during a televised telephone conversation.
Earlier, Mr Lobana told his supporters that he recognized “president-elect” Molino’s victory, adding “I wish him the best.”
Mr Molino said yesterday that he accepts the result “with responsibility and humility”.
“I’m not anyone’s puppet”, he assured in his last pre-election speech.
After being disqualified from the election, Martinelli took refuge in the Nicaraguan embassy in the Panamanian capital, appointing José Raul Molino, then his vice-presidential candidate, as his dolphin.
The vote comes at a time when Panama is plagued by endemic corruption, is facing a long and extreme drought that has reduced traffic on its world-famous Canal, the engine of its economy, and is also being tested by the migration crisis, as in 2023 half a million people The migrants, on their way to the USA, crossed the feared Darién jungle, on the border with Colombia.
Source: AMPE-AFP-Reuters