Citizens will go to 3,037 electoral centers where 7,577 voting stations are enabled from 07:00 to 16:00 local time to select 887 public officials (26 more than in 2019), in a complex democratic process where wins by simple majority and there will be no second round.
In these votes, the new president and vice president of the country, 20 deputies to the Central American Parliament and 71 deputies to the National Assembly are elected.
They will also choose 81 mayors, 701 township representatives and 11 councilors, all with their respective substitutes for the 1st period. from July 2024 to June 30, 2029.
3,596 Panamanians residing abroad, 95 percent of those eligible, and 670 registered in the Voter Registry for Early Voting (REVA), have already exercised this right online, but only for the position of President of the Republic. especially public servants who this Sunday will not be able to attend the polls in person for work reasons.
Regarding the day, former Argentine Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra, now head of the Electoral Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS), urged to leave with democratic conviction and for the popular will to be reflected at the polls.
In the midst of galloping frustration over the performance of traditional political parties and the lack of institutional credibility, seven candidates arrive at the crucial hour who aspire to replace a worn-out administration of Laurentino Cortizo.
For several analysts, the new rulers will have to face a weakened economy that carries almost 50 billion dollars of public debt, draft a new Constitution, a bankrupt Social Security Fund, the water crisis and the role of the Canal.
Also informality in the labor market, high cost of living, growing irregular migration, corruption cases pending in justice and the consequences of the end of metal mining, demanded by the people in the streets in protests that shook the country in 2023, among other challenges.
Disputing to occupy that space in the Palacio de las Garzas (headquarters of the Executive) is the standard bearer of the Realizing Goals and Alliance banners, José Raúl Mulino, who leads by a wide margin the voting intention polls, but whose candidacy was sued and then endorsed in marathon session by the Supreme Court of Justice.
Mulino, 64 years old and former Minister of Security in the Government of Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), criticized for leading police repressions against indigenous people, replaced the former president, sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for money laundering, in that popularly elected position. capitals in the New Business case and since February 7 he has been granted asylum in the Nicaraguan embassy in this capital.
Judging by the polls, he is followed in the preferences, in a so-called technical tie, by the former President of the Republic Martin Torrijos (2004-2009) who runs for the Popular Party; and two others who already competed in the 2019 elections: Ricardo Lombana, now for the Another Path Movement; and Rómulo Roux, backed by Cambio Democrático and the Panameñista party.
Also participating in that tournament, with fewer possibilities, are the representative of the current ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), José Gabriel Carrizo; and the only two women candidates by free nomination, the economist Maribel Gordón and the deputy Zulay Rodríguez.
For several analysts, the most recent Supreme Court ruling on Mulino will affect voting intentions, especially due to the current high percentage of undecided people, which reflects the complexity of even early and cautious forecasts, a scenario in which the participation of young people will be decisive.
In that sense, scholars such as José Stoute have warned that the possibilities of an alternative revolve around those who view Mulino’s candidacy with concern and may direct their vote towards the candidate they see as having the greatest chance of winning; while others, taking their victory for granted, would stop going to vote.
Some personalities have been more emphatic, such as the popular singer-songwriter Rubén Blades, who asserted that if on May 5 the electorate chooses as its president and representative the figurehead of a person declared corrupt in a free election, then put a sign on our Republic that says : “It’s sold, Portable Country and let’s stop pretending to be patriots.”
In an environment marked by uncertainty, it will be the voters who go to the polls at the voting centers who will define the political future of Panama for the next five years.
