The country of the Canal has been the Central American powerboat in the last few years. High figures in sustained economic growth has caught the attention of the world, and with the upcoming electoral campaign, international analysts see the reasons for the Panamanian bonanza "as a successful conjunction of politics, governmental decisions, and stability in regulations."

Manuel Mora and Arujo, President of the Board of Directors of the University of Torcuato Di Tella, expressed in his article in Infolatam that: "The political stability that the country has achieved has surprised many observers. The current government of President Torrijos, of the PRD, is the heir of a complex and unstable Panamanian political tradition; so are the other candidates. In many ways, it is a government which, based on current world standards, qualifies as an exponent of the "center left"..."

Source: Infolatam

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Martinelli Wins Panamanian Election

May 2009

The opposition Alliance for Change candidate was elected the next president of Panama by a wide margin.

With 91% of the polling stations having been examined, Ricardo Martinelli had obtained 60.31% of the votes, followed by the official candidate of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Balbina Herrera, who had accumulated 37.33% and Guillermo Endara, who had received 2.35%.

Elections in Panama in Final Stretch

April 2009

The period for electoral propaganda ends today, just three days from the May 3 elections.

Panamanians will elect the successor to current President Martín Torrijos for the period 2009-2014.

Prensa.com reported: "The candidates for the Presidential Seat are: Ricardo Martinelli of the opposition Alliance for Change, the official candidate of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Balbina Herrera and former president Guillermo Endara, of Moral Vanguard for the Country (VMP)."

Elections in Panama: Economic Programs

April 2009

For whoever wins the elections on May 3, the main challenge will be to maintain the economic growth that has averaged 8% annually in recent years.

Both the PRD (the Democratic Revolutionary Party, plus the Liberal Party and the People's Party) and Alianza para el Cambio (Democratic Change, the Patriotic Union, the Panamanian Party and Molirena), propose the continuation of the current macro-economic direction of the country, giving continuity to many of the programs conducted by the government of Martín Torrijos.

Businessman Martinelli leads all in Panama

December 2008

A conservative businessman of the Democratic Change (CD) party could become the next president of Panama.

According to a poll by Unimer published in La Prensa, 36.2 per cent of respondents would vote for Ricardo Martinelli in next year’s election, up 3.8 points since October.