By Valentine Hilaire and Elida Moreno
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – Panamanians will head to the polls in Sunday’s normal election to elect one in all eight contenders to be the nation’s subsequent president and vote for a whole lot of native lawmakers and officers.
Following weeks of marketing campaign occasions that featured catchy reggaeton songs and well-liked entertainers, over 3 million voters will resolve who’s finest positioned to repair Panama’s urgent financial issues, sort out corruption and restore the nation’s status as an funding haven.
Jose Raul Mulino, a former minister who changed well-liked ex-president Ricardo Martinelli on the poll after Martinelli was barred from working because of a cash laundering conviction, is main in opinion polls. Mulino has promised to usher in prosperity and to maintain Martinelli out of jail.
Romulo Roux, in his second bid to win the presidency, and ex-president Martin Torrijos have alternated between second and third place. Trailing carefully behind is Ricardo Lombana, who additionally ran up to now election, and present vp Jose Gabriel Carrizo.
Panama’s electoral guidelines don’t require a run-off, making Sunday’s consequence remaining. Campaigns have stated they may ship volunteers to the polls to supervise voting and guarantee a good election.
No single celebration is forecast to win management of the legislature, the place 885 seats are up for grabs.
Lawmakers throughout totally different events who backed a controversial authorities contract with Canadian miner First Quantum (NASDAQ:) have confronted a backlash that might damage their help.
Many Panamanians took to the streets final yr to protest the Cobre Panama mine contract, which opponents argued lacked environmental ensures and was riddled with corruption. Panama’s high court docket dominated the contract unconstitutional in November.
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Panama’s subsequent authorities should deal with a troubled pension fund system, excessive ranges of public debt and the loss in earnings from the closure of the mine, which accounted for about 5% of gross home product.
Corruption has change into a hot-button concern for voters. Native media has lately reported on profitable pupil loans and scholarships granted to the youngsters of politicians and rich high-profile households.
After a report 520,000 migrants final yr crossed the treacherous jungle that connects Panama and Colombia, referred to as the Darien Hole, migration can be on voters’ minds. Some candidates have vowed to open up the trail, which might enhance migration flows, whereas others need to increase controls to close it down fully.
The subsequent administration will even inherit issues confronted by the Panama Canal, which noticed revenues tumble after it was pressured to chop ship crossings because of a chronic drought.
