Politics of Panama#Judiciary

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The politics of Panama take place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic with a multi-party system, whereby the President of Panama is both head of state and head of government.

Executive power is exercised by the president. Legislative power is vested in the National Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The branches are according to Panama's Political Constitution of 1972, reformed by the Actos Reformatorios of 1978 and the Acto Constitucional of 1983, united in cooperation and limited through a system of checks and balances.

Three independent organizations with clearly defined responsibilities are found in the constitution: the Comptroller General of the Republic has the responsibility to manage public funds; the Electoral Tribunal has the responsibility to guarantee liberty, transparency, and the efficacy of the popular vote; and the Ministry of the Public oversees interests of State and of the municipalities.

The USAID website ranks Panama at 0.83/1 for democracy, but only 0.5/1 for political corruption.{{Cite web|title=IDEA|url=https://idea.usaid.gov/cd/panama/|access-date=2021-07-14|website=USAID}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Executive branch

class="wikitable"
Office	Name	Party	Since
President	José Raúl Mulino	Realizing Goals	July 1, 2024
Vice President \| colspan="3" \| Vacant

class="wikitable"

Office

Name

Party

Since

President

José Raúl Mulino

Realizing Goals

July 1, 2024

Vice President

| colspan="3" | Vacant

File:Palacio de las Garzas Panamá.JPG]]

The Executive Branch includes a president and one vice president. The president and vice-president are elected on a single ballot for a five-year term by direct popular vote. Presidents are not allowed to immediately run for re-election, but can run again after waiting five years.

=State Ministers=

Minister of Agricultural and Livestock Development: Roberto José Linares
Minister of Canal Affairs: José Ramón Icaza
Minister of Commerce and Industries: Julio Moltó
Minister of Economy and Finance: Felipe Chapman
Minister of Education: Lucy Molinar
Ministry of Environment: Juan Carlos Navarro
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Javier Martínez-Acha
Minister of Health: Fernando Boyd Galindo
Minister of Housing: Jaime Jované
Minister of Government: Dinoska Montalvo
Minister of the Presidency: Juan Carlos Orillac
Minister of Public Security: Frank Alexis Ábrego
Minister of Public Works: José Luis Andrade
Minister of Social Development: Beatriz Carles Arango
Minister of Work and Labor Development: Jackeline Muñoz
Minister of The Woman: Niurka Palacios
Minister of Culture: Maruja Herrera
Attorney General: Javier Enrique Caraballo Salazar
Manager, National Bank of Panama: Javier Carrizo
Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York: Eloy Alfaro de Alba

(Source: CIA World Factbook: World Leaders, Panama)

Legislative Branch

File:Asamblea Nacional de Panamá.JPG.]]

The legislative branch consists of a unicameral National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional), composed of 71 members elected to five-year terms from single- and multi-seat constituencies.

Judiciary

The Judicial Organ administers justice in a permanent, free and expeditious manner. It comprises the Supreme Court of Justice, the Tribunals, and the judges established by law, according to the constitution of Panama (title VII, chapter 1).

Elections

An autonomous Electoral Tribunal supervises voter registration, the election process, and the activities of political parties. Everyone over the age of 18 is required to vote, although those who fail to do so are not penalized.

Political Culture

The dominant political parties in Panamanian history have been the PRD and the Panameñista (former Arnulfista Party). These parties were founded by charismatic and strong political enemies, Omar Torrijos (PRD)—the deceased father of former president, Martín Torrijos—and Arnulfo Arias (Panameñista/Arnulfista), late husband of the ex-president, Mireya Moscoso. Even though these leaders died years ago, their aura is revived by their followers, and they are present in every election.

Corruption

Panamanians have been working to root out the after-effects of several decades of military rule since the country's return to democracy in 1989.{{Cite web|last=Cuffe|first=Sandra|title=Corruption concerns cast shadow over Panama's elections|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/5/3/corruption-concerns-cast-shadow-over-panamas-elections|access-date=2021-07-14|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}} In 2020, it was reported that Panama loses approximately 1% of its GDP every year to corruption, including government corruption.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-10|title=¡Basta Ya! How pandemic-related corruption calls for a new social contract in Panama|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/basta-ya-how-pandemic-related-corruption-calls-for-a-new-social-contract-in-panama/|access-date=2021-07-14|website=Atlantic Council|language=en-US}} However, the country is working to improve its democracy, and in July 2020, two ex-presidents of the country (Ricardo Martinelli and Juan Carlos Varela) were questioned over their involvement in the Odebrecht bribery scandal.{{Cite web|last=Sleinan|first=Julett Pineda|title=Two Panama Ex-Presidents Accused in the Odebrecht Corruption Scandal|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/14510-two-panama-ex-presidents-accused-in-the-odebrecht-corruption-scandal|access-date=2021-07-14|website=www.occrp.org|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=2020-07-02|title=Former Panama presidents face corruption charges|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200702-former-panama-presidents-face-corruption-charges|access-date=2021-07-14|website=France 24|language=en}} Martinelli was eventually released after being found not guilty, but was subsequently re-arrested on charges of money laundering.{{Cite news|last=Moreno|first=Elida|date=2021-02-27|title=Ex-Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli's aircraft seized in Guatemala|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-panama-martinelli-idUSKBN2AR07A|access-date=2021-07-14}} Two sons of Martinelli (Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli) were also charged with bribery and money laundering by the United States.{{Cite news|last=Moreno|first=Sofia Menchu, Elida|date=2020-07-07|title=U.S. charges ex-Panama president's sons with bribery, money laundering|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-panama-guatemala-corruption-idUSKBN2472YD|access-date=2021-07-14}} In August 2020, Panama joined forces with the United States to form a joint task force to root out money laundering.{{Cite news |date=2020-08-17 |title=United States partners with Panama on money laundering task force |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-panama-usa-idUSKCN25D2KX |access-date=2021-07-14}}

However, despite the work being done, much still remains to be accomplished, and the International Trade Administration notes that corruption remains the largest hurdle for businesses wanting to invest in the country.{{Cite web|date=8 January 2021|title=Panama - Market Challenges|url=https://www.trade.gov/knowledge-product/panama-market-challenges|access-date=14 July 2021|website=Official Website of the International Trade Administration}}

References

External links

[http://www.asamblea.gob.pa/ National Assembly of Panama]
[http://www.presidencia.gob.pa/ Presidency of Panama]
[https://www.britannica.com/place/Panama/Government-and-society Panama - Government and society | Britannica]
[https://freedomhouse.org/country/panama/freedom-world/2021 Panama: Freedom in the World 2021 Country Report]