On Sunday, Panamanian citizens stood in long lines and endured scorching heat to cast their votes in the presidential election. The campaign leading up to the election was marked by protests, with key issues including a corruption scandal and a migration crisis in the Darién Jungle, where organized criminals extort money from migrants. In 2023, the death toll in the jungle reached at least 141.
As the votes were being counted, candidate José Raúl Mulino, representing the Realizando Metas party, had a leading position with 33% of the votes. He promised to address the issues in the Darién Jungle. In second place was Ricardo Lombana from the Movimento Outro Caminho party, with 24% of the votes, followed by former president Martín Torrijos with 16%. There were five other candidates in the running.
This election is considered one of the most complex in modern Panama history, according to Arantza Alonso, a senior analyst for the Americas at Verisk Maplecroft. Just one day before the election, the Supreme Court allowed Mulino to be included as a candidate despite objections from his opponents. Mulino replaced former president Ricard Martinelli who was declared ineligible and sought asylum in Nicaraguan embassy.
Despite corruption scandals surrounding Martinelli there is an element of gratitude among Panamanian voters for economic results during his presidency. The election outcome is awaited with anticipation as citizens hope for positive change in leadership.
