2019 Panamanian general election

Incumbent President Juan Carlos Varela was elected in 2014 with 39% of the vote.{{Cite web |date=2014-05-05 |title=Panamá elige a Juan Carlos Varela, el peor enemigo del presidente Martinelli |url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2014/05/140504_panama_presidente_varela_perfil_az |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=BBC News Mundo |language=es}} Polls showed him to be the second most unpopular president in Latin America by 2018, with a 57% disapproval rating.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-10 |title=Varela tuvo menos 33 de aprobación en enero |url=https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/nacion/varela-tuvo-menos-33-de-aprobacion-en-enero-1096817 |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Panamá América |language=es}}

Corruption became a major issue during the campaign,{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2019 |author=Mat Youkee |title=Elections 2019: Five Things to Know About Panama's May 5 Vote |url=https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/elections-2019-five-things-to-know-about-panamas-may-5-vote/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Americas Quarterly |language=en-US}} being the first election held after the Panama Papers leak, which exposed the extent of the country's involvement in tax evasion.{{Cite web |last=Journalists |first=The International Consortium of Investigative |title=Giant Leak of Offshore Financial Records Exposes Global Array of Crime and Corruption - The Panama Papers |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/panamapapers/overview/intro/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=OCCRP |language=en}} Investigations into mass bribery by the Brazilian company Odebrecht also took place during the preceding presidential term,{{Cite web |last=marpichel |date=2017-06-01 |title=Caso Odebrecht en Panamá: 36 procesados y 56 millones aprehendidos |url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2017/06/01/caso-odebrecht-en-panama-36-procesados-y-56-millones-aprehendidos/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=CNN |language=es}} with the presidential administrations of Martín Torrijos, Ricardo Martinelli, and Juan Carlos Varela all being subject to scrutiny.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-13 |title=El expresidente panameño Martín Torrijos fue investigado por el caso Odebrecht |url=https://www.france24.com/es/20180713-el-expresidente-panameno-martin-torrijos-fue-investigado-por-el-caso-odebrecht |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=France 24}} Martinelli was also investigated for wiretapping political opponents,{{Cite web |last=Noticias |first=Redacción de TVN |date=2015-10-29 |title=Tras 20 días de acusación contra Martinelli por "pinchazos" Mejía aún no actúa |url=https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/acusacion-martinelli-pinchazos-mejia-actua_1_1709598.html |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Tvn Panamá |language=es}} which resulted in his being disqualified in his campaigns for Assembly deputy and Panama City mayor.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-26 |title=Panamá: Tribunal anula candidaturas del expresidente Ricardo Martinelli |url=https://www.france24.com/es/20190426-ricardo-martinelli-elecciones-panama |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=France 24}}

The President was elected through plurality vote in one round.

Of the 71 members of the National Assembly, 26 were elected in single-member constituencies and 45 by proportional representation in multi-member constituencies. Each district with more than 40,000 inhabitants formed a constituency. Constituencies elected one MP for every 30,000 residents and an additional representative for every fraction over 10,000.[http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2245_B.htm Electoral system] IPU

In single-member constituencies, MPs were elected using the first-past-the-post system. In multi-member constituencies MPs were elected using party list proportional representation according to a double quotient; the first allocation of seats used a simple quotient, further seats were allotted using the quotient divided by two, with any remaining seats are awarded to the parties with the greatest remainder.

The following seven candidates contested the election:{{Cite news |title=Quiénes son y qué proponen los 4 principales candidatos que se disputan la presidencia de Panamá |url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-48128432 |access-date=2024-06-22 |work=BBC News Mundo |language=es}}

• Laurentino "Nito" Cortizo – Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD)
• José Isabel Blandón - Panameñista Party
• Rómulo Roux - Cambio Democrático (CD)
• Saúl Méndez - Broad Front for Democracy (FAD)
• Ana Matilde Gómez - Independent
• Marco Ameglio - Independent
• Ricardo Lombana - Independent

Nito Cortizo won the PRD's presidential primary, held on 16 September 2023. He defeated Assembly member Zulay Rodríguez and former President Ernesto Pérez Balladares.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-17 |title=Laurentino Cortizo gana las primarias presidenciales del PRD |url=https://www.prensa.com/politica/Laurentino-Cortizo-primarias-presidenciales-PRD_0_5124237558.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.prensa.com |language=es}} The Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement allied itself with the PRD.{{Cite web |date=2018-12-31 |title=PRD y Molirena inscriben su alianza ante el Tribunal Electoral |url=https://www.prensa.com/politica/PRD-Molirena-inscriben-Tribunal-Electoral_0_5203729584.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.prensa.com |language=es}}{{Cite web |last=nacion.pa@epasa.com {{!}} @PanamaAmerica |first=Redacci\u00f3n {{!}} |date=2018-12-23 |title=PRD celebra directorio nacional extraordinario |url=https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/politica/prd-celebra-directorio-nacional-extraordinario-1124113 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=Panamá América |language=es}} He selected José Gabriel Carrizo as his running mate.{{Cite web |date=2019-02-02 |title=¿Quién es José Gabriel Carrizo Jaén, compañero de fórmula de Cortizo? |url=https://www.prensa.com/politica/Jose-Gabriel-Carrizo-Jaen_0_5228477125.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.prensa.com |language=es}}

Panama City mayor José Blandón won the Panameñista primary, beating former Housing Minister Mario Etchelecu.{{Cite web |date=2018-10-28 |title=José Blandón gana candidatura presidencial del Partido Panameñista |url=https://www.telemetro.com/noticias/2018/10/28/jose-blandon-presidencial-partido-panamenista/1093869.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.telemetro.com |language=es-PA}} The People's Party allied itself with the Panameñista Party,{{Cite web |date=2018-11-26 |title=Partido Popular oficializa apoyo a Blandón para 2019 |url=https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/Partido-Popular-oficializa-apoyo-Blandon_0_5176732355.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.prensa.com |language=es}} maintaining the alliance that had also been seen in the 2014 elections.{{Cite web |date=2013-06-23 |title=El Directorio del PP aprobó la alianza con el Partido Panameñista |url=https://www.telemetro.com/voto-2014/2013/06/23/directorio-pp-alianza-partido-panamenista/1858957.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.telemetro.com |language=es-PA}} He selected Nilda Quijano as his running mate.{{Cite web |title=Nilda Quijano acompañará a Blandón en la vicepresidencia |url=https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/politica/nilda-quijano-blandon-acompanara-vicepresidencia-YMLE7450 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.laestrella.com.pa |language=es-PA}}

Rómulo Roux, a former Canal Minister and Foreign Minister, won the CD presidential primary, defeating José Raúl Mulino,{{Cite web |date=2018-08-12 |title=Rómulo Roux gana candidatura presidencial de Cambio Democrático |url=https://www.telemetro.com/noticias/2018/08/12/romulo-roux-presidencial-cambio-democratico/1121717.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.telemetro.com |language=es-PA}} winning 68% to Mulino's 29%.{{Cite web |last=Noticias |first=Redacción de TVN |date=2018-08-12 |title=Rómulo Roux se convierte en el candidato presidencial de Cambio Democrático |url=https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/politica/romulo-roux-ganador-primarias-cd-presidencial-video_1_1304767.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=Tvn Panamá |language=es}} He chose reporter Luis Casis as his running mate.{{Cite web |date=2019-02-03 |title=Luis Casis, compañero de fórmula del candidato presidencial Rómulo Roux |url=https://www.prensa.com/politica/Luis-Casis-presidencial-Romulo-Roux_0_5229227037.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.prensa.com |language=es}}

The Alliance Party was a new political party led by Assembly member José Muñoz. José Domingo Arias, the losing CD presidential candidate in 2014, won its primary with over 90% of the vote.{{Cite web |title=José Domingo Arias gana las primarias presidenciales del Partido Alianza |url=https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/politica/jose-gana-arias-domingo-primarias-EQLE43363 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.laestrella.com.pa |language=es-PA}} The party later chose to ally itself with the CD candidacy of Rómulo Roux,{{Cite web |date=2018-12-28 |title=Directorio del CD aprueba acuerdo con el partido Alianza |url=https://www.prensa.com/politica/Romulo-Roux-descarta-partidos-adversarios_0_5201479825.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.prensa.com |language=es}} with Arias declining his presidential candidacy.{{Cite web |last=Noticias |first=Redacción de TVN |date=2018-12-26 |title=‘Mimito’ Arias renuncia a la candidatura presidencial por el partido Alianza |url=https://www.tvn-2.com/100-dias-en-el-poder/noticias/mimito-arias-presidencial-partido-alianza-video_1_1303256.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=Tvn Panamá |language=es}}

{{Election results

|cand1=Laurentino Cortizo|alliance1=Joining Forces|aspan1=3|party1=Democratic Revolutionary Party|votes1=609638|acolor1={{party color|Democratic Revolutionary Party}}

|party2=Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement|votes2=45664

|atotal3=655302

|cand4=Rómulo Roux|alliance4=Change to Wake Up|aspan4=3|party4=Democratic Change|votes4=564297|acolor4={{party color|Democratic Change (Panama)}}

|party5=Alliance Party|votes5=44706

|atotal6=609003

|cand7=Ricardo Lombana|alliance7=Independent|votes7=368962

|cand8=José Blandón|alliance8=Panama We Can|aspan8=3|party8=Panameñista Party|votes8=174113|acolor8={{party color|Panameñista Party}}

|party9=People's Party|votes9=38818

|atotal10=212931

|cand11=Ana Matilde Gómez|alliance11=Independent|votes11=93631

|cand12=Saúl Méndez|alliance12=Broad Front for Democracy|votes12=13540

|cand13=Marco Ameglio|alliance13=Independent|votes13=11408

|invalid=48656

|electorate=2757823

|source=[https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/eventos-electorales/plan-general-elecciones-plagel/ Election Tribunal]

}}

{{Election results

|image=File:AN Panama 2019 election.svg

|party1=Democratic Revolutionary Party|votes1=542105|seats1=35|sc1=+9

|party2=Democratic Change|votes2=405798|seats2=18|sc2=–6

|party3=Panameñista Party|votes3=312635|seats3=8|sc3=–8

|party4=Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement|votes4=92340|seats4=5|sc4=+3

|party5=People's Party|votes5=65028|seats5=0|sc5=–1

|party6=Alliance Party|votes6=43670|seats6=0|sc6=–1

|party7=Broad Front for Democracy|votes7=22711|seats7=0|sc7=0

|party8=Independents|votes8=323153|seats8=5|sc8=+4

|invalid=142663

|total_sc=0

|source=[https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/eventos-electorales/plan-general-elecciones-plagel/ Tribunal Electoral]

}}

{{Election results

|cand1=José Luis Fábrega|alliance1=Joining Forces|aspan1=3|party1=Democratic Revolutionary Party|votes1=156095|acolor1={{party color|Democratic Revolutionary Party}}

|party2=Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement|votes2=19260

|atotal3=175355

|cand4=Sergio Gálvez|alliance4=Change to Wake Up|aspan4=3|party4=Democratic Change|votes4=117476|acolor4={{party color|Democratic Change (Panama)}}

|party5=Alliance Party|votes5=11343

|atotal6=128819

|cand7=Raúl Ricardo Rodriguez|alliance7=Independent|votes7=56638

|cand8=Adolfo Valderrama|alliance8=Panama We Can|aspan8=3|party8=Panameñista Party|votes8=32962|acolor8={{party color|Panameñista Party}}

|party9=People's Party|votes9=10302

|atotal10=43264

|cand11=Diogenes Sanchez|alliance11=Broad Front for Democracy|votes11=8081

|invalid=24595

|source=[https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/eventos-electorales/plan-general-elecciones-plagel/ Election Tribunal]

}}

{{Election results

|cand1=Hector Carrasquilla|alliance1=Change to Wake Up|aspan1=3|party1=Democratic Change|votes1=51664|acolor1={{party color|Democratic Change (Panama)}}

|party2=Alliance Party|votes2=5872

|atotal3=57536

|cand4=Cesar Sanjur|alliance4=Joining Forces|aspan4=3|party4=Democratic Revolutionary Party|votes4=36693|acolor4={{party color|Democratic Revolutionary Party}}

|party5=Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement|votes5=5456

|atotal6=42149

|cand7=Gerald Cumberbatch|alliance7=Panama We Can|aspan7=3|party7=Independent|votes7=12875||party8=Panameñista Party|votes8=9275|acolor7={{party color|Independent politician}}|atotal9=22150|cand10=Jacqueline Hurtado|alliance10=People's Party|votes10=17810

|cand11=Irving Dominguez|alliance11=Independent|votes11=11123

|cand12=Gilberto Marulanda|alliance12=Broad Front for Democracy|votes12=3163

|invalid=10558

|source=[https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/eventos-electorales/plan-general-elecciones-plagel/ Election Tribunal]

}}

{{Election results

|cand1=Rollyns Rodriguez|party1=Democratic Revolutionary Party|votes1=31977

|cand2=Belkis Saavedra|party2=Democratic Change|votes2=26934

|cand3=Militza Palma|votes3=21969|party3=People's Party

|cand4=Percival Piggott|party4=Panameñista Party|votes4=13956

|cand5=Maruquel Luque|party5=Independent|votes5=7277

|cand6=Victor Godoy|party6=Independent|votes6=4859

|cand7=Ivan Berrio|party7=Independent|votes7=3412

|cand8=Luis Pimentel|party8=Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement|votes8=1794

|cand9=Denis Amaya|party9=Broad Front for Democracy|votes9=1526

|cand10=Norma Estrada|party10=Alliance Party|votes10=489

|invalid=6620

|source=[https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/eventos-electorales/plan-general-elecciones-plagel/ Election Tribunal]

}}

{{Election results

|cand1=Alex Lee|alliance1=Democratic Revolutionary Party|votes1=21826

|cand2=Diogenes Galvan|alliance2=Independent|votes2=20027

|cand3=Federico Policani|alliance3=Panama We Can|aspan3=3|party3=Panameñista Party|votes3=14519|acolor3={{party color|Panameñista Party}}

|party4=People's Party|votes4=4388

|atotal5=18907

|cand6=Carlos Outten|alliance6=Democratic Change|votes6=15794

|cand7=Enrique Brooks Galvan|alliance7=Independent|votes7=6645

|cand8=Felipe Cabeza|alliance8=Broad Front for Democracy|votes8=5759

|cand9=Cristobal Gondola|alliance9=Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement|votes9=5460

|cand10=Josefina Smith|alliance10=Alliance Party|votes10=2893

|invalid=7048

|source=[https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/eventos-electorales/plan-general-elecciones-plagel/ Election Tribunal]

}}

{{Election results

|cand1=Tomás Velasquez|alliance1=Joining Forces|aspan1=3|party1=Democratic Revolutionary Party|votes1=31259|acolor1={{party color|Democratic Revolutionary Party}}

|party2=Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement|votes2=3868

|atotal3=35127

|cand4=Chuin Fa Chong|alliance4=Alliance Party|votes4=24696

|cand5=Mario Muñoz|alliance5=Democratic Change|votes5=12962

|cand6=Alberto Barranco|alliance6=Panama We Can|aspan6=3|party6=Panameñista Party|votes6=6746|acolor6={{party color|Panameñista Party}}

|party7=People's Party|votes7=2699

|atotal8=9445

|cand9=Dario Gomez|alliance9=Independent|votes9=9014

|cand10=Armando Barrios|alliance10=Broad Front for Democracy|votes10=1573

|invalid=7211

|source=[https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/eventos-electorales/plan-general-elecciones-plagel/ Election Tribunal]

}}

{{Election results

|cand1=Antonio Arauz|alliance1=Democratic Revolutionary Party|votes1=28132

|cand2=Joaquín De León|alliance2=Panameñista Party|votes2=19428

|cand3=Karen Caballero|alliance3=Independent|aspan3=3|party3=Democratic Change|votes3=8211|acolor3={{party color|Independent politician}}

|party4=Independent|votes4=4060

|atotal5=12271

|cand6=Nicolás Rivera|alliance6=Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement|votes6=6545

|cand7=Agustín Saldaña|alliance7=Independent|aspan7=3|party7=Independent|votes7=3016|acolor7={{party color|Independent politician}}

|party8=People's Party|votes8=2505

|atotal9=5521

|cand10=Amael Acosta|alliance10=Independent|votes10=3460

|cand11=Néstor Camargo|alliance11=Alliance Party|votes11=945

|cand12=Tomas Armuelles|alliance12=Broad Front for Democracy|votes12=666

|invalid=5715

|source=[https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/eventos-electorales/plan-general-elecciones-plagel/ Election Tribunal]

}}

{{Election results

|cand1=Samid Sandoval|alliance1=Change to Wake Up|aspan1=3|party1=Democratic Change|votes1=19102|acolor1={{party color|Democratic Change (Panama)}}

|party2=Alliance Party|votes2=1093

|atotal3=20195

|cand4=Edward Ibarra|alliance4=Democratic Revolutionary Party|votes4=18809

|cand5=Victor Rodriguez|alliance5=Panameñista Party|votes5=7245

|cand6=Isaac Rodriguez|alliance6=Independent|votes6=4233

|cand7=Horacio Freeman|alliance7=Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement|votes7=1777

|cand8=Edilso Vega|alliance8=Independent|votes8=1220

|cand9=Santiago Murillo|alliance9=Independent|votes9=460

|cand10=Edgardo Abrego|alliance10=Broad Front for Democracy|votes10=237

|invalid=3575

|source=[https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/eventos-electorales/plan-general-elecciones-plagel/ Election Tribunal]

}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Panamanian elections}}

Category:Presidential elections in Panama

Panama

General election

Category:Elections in Panama

Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results

Category:May 2019 in North America