Panama’s electoral authority declared former Public Security Minister José Raúl Mulino the winner of the country’s presidential election on Sunday.
After 90% of the votes were counted, Mulino, the candidate of the opposition alliance, won 34% of the vote, defeating candidate Ricardo Lombana, who garnered 25%.
Two days before the election, the country’s Supreme Court rejected the disqualification of Mulino, who emerged as a candidate in February, replacing former President Ricardo Martinelli. The ex-head of state, who was once the favourite to win this year’s presidential race, was disqualified by Panama’s electoral tribunal as he was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for money laundering.
Martinelli has been living at the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City since he sought asylum there in February. Mulino has dismissed the criminal case against Martinelli as politically motivated, but it has been suggested he could use his new position to pardon the former president.
Eight candidates competed to succeed President Laurentino Cortizo, who has left the country in drought, mass protests and economic decline.
Mulino will face an economy with growth expected to fall from 7.3% in 2023 to 2.5% in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He has promised to stimulate the economy by creating jobs and increasing investment and infrastructure.
The new president also pledged to close the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama, as the 575,000-hectare wall of vegetation served as a corridor for South American migrants trying to reach the United States through Central America and Mexico.
In 2023, more than half a million people, including 113,000 children, crossed the Darien Gap. Panama authorities estimate that the number of people crossing it could increase in 2024.
