Panama's Supreme Court has ruled that the presidential candidacy of José Raúl Mulino, a former running mate of ex-President Ricardo Martinelli who is currently holed up in Nicaragua’s Embassy, is constitutional. This decision comes just days before the nation's general elections, scheduled for Sunday. Mulino, representing the conservative Realizing Goals party and leading in the polls with 33.4%, faced over 60 objections to his candidacy. The court's ruling removes a significant uncertainty, as Mulino is seen as the clear favorite to win. The elections are set against a backdrop of social unrest, economic challenges, including an unemployment rate above 50% among young people, and a high level of dissatisfaction with democracy among Panamanians. Following the court's decision, Panama’s bonds rallied, indicating a positive market response.
Panamanians started voting on Sunday in presidential elections featuring a crowded field of eight candidates led by the protege of a former head of state convicted of corruption ⬇️ https://t.co/amNTaxtMJT https://t.co/lrTZHLnWB3
Panama Supreme Court rejects challenge to candidacy of presidential frontrunner days before vote https://t.co/1Tik3XSO7X
Panamanians vote in election dominated by former president who was barred from running https://t.co/YspizHp8Wm
#Panama | Three million citizens are being called to the polls to vote for president, vice president, 20 legislators to the Central American Parliament, 71 legislators to the National Assembly, 81 mayors, 701 township representatives, and 11 councilors. https://t.co/ebENpqu3tH
#Panama | Average turnout across the 7 presidential elections is ~75%. Deviations from this average, either up or down, will affect how well polls captured the race & opens the possibility of some surprises… https://t.co/7v4cfbHxcX
Former security chief Jose Raul Mulino is the favorite in Panama's presidential election https://t.co/MRz70sL9Lq
Panama is holding a presidential election on Sunday while facing an odd situation: The most prominent player in the race is not on the ballot. https://t.co/AZrzQ7Zatz
Panamanians are heading to the polls for a general election to choose the nation’s next president and vote for hundreds of lawmakers and officials ⤵️ https://t.co/MuG06OlBQl
Panamanians vote in crowded field of presidential contenders ➡️ https://t.co/qMBtWU2yfO https://t.co/vcH8EOCeh6
Panamanians vote in crowded field of presidential contenders https://t.co/pqxKtTO83s https://t.co/SzhZa7diLR
⚠️ PANAMANIANS VOTE IN CROWDED FIELD OF PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS Full Story → https://t.co/IiLQQxpZhA
Panama election: Voters to choose president after front-runner sentenced https://t.co/BbbbeoNCU9
Panamanians are voting in presidential elections today from a crowded field of eight candidates, with the protégé of a graft-convicted ex-head of state in the lead https://t.co/EQxMdiJW3D https://t.co/XLV9OZ5Nv7
Years of fiscal mismanagement and corruption mean two-thirds of Panamanians now desire “radical change”, research suggests. Some 83% say they are dissatisfied with their democracy. They can vote for a new president this weekend https://t.co/JKU9KS5c8M 👇
I don’t trust anyone who is willing to sacrifice so much to be in power. Which is why one day before Panama’s national election, I still don’t know who to vote for.
#Panama #PanamaDecide2024 The SC decision is a masterclass in “pragmatism” or maybe cowardice: Mulino’s candidacy is likely unconstitutional, but disqualifying him would’ve been worse! The delay, of course, made ruling on the merits nearly impossible. 🙄 https://t.co/l5Wv21dXmX
This weekend, Panamanians will elect a president after a roller-coaster campaign period that has featured a social media-savvy dog and a popular former president hiding in the storage room of a foreign embassy. Here's what you need to know. @SaoSasha https://t.co/tRm1xLGhwZ
Panama court rules leading candidate Mulino may remain in presidential race https://t.co/NAcabAxGBd
Panama is at a crossroads with the election this weekend. Will former President and indicted felon Martinelli hold sway over the leading candidate if elected? Or are civic and business institutions resilient enough to keep Panama from deepening into corruption and kleptocracy? https://t.co/fIoFjgkxky
Majority of #Panama Supreme Court side with allowing José Raúl Mulino to run despite over 60 objections. Court probably damned if they do, damned if they don't given I'd fully expect Mulino to pardon running mate Ricardo Martinelli if he wins on Sunday. https://t.co/M1lssAEQWv
Panama's Supreme Court rejected a constitutional challenge to the candidacy of leading presidential contender Jose Raul Mulino on Friday, removing an element of uncertainty two days before the May 5 vote. https://t.co/gm8av44R3G
There are seven candidates for the presidency when Panama goes to the polls on Sunday. All promise to spend billions to replenish the waters of the canal https://t.co/LURulExFL4 👇
That Ricardo Martinelli might puppeteer José Raúl Mulino sounds irregular, but it surely would not bother the plurality of Panamanian voters who appear ready to elect Mulino Sunday. Martinelli is not a poder fáctico, he’s simply very popular (despite everything).
"The winner will also not have a comfortable majority in Congress. It will be very difficult to pass the urgent and important laws needed to face Panama’s immense problems." @EdwinECabreraU told @brisaenztorres in this week's edition of the #WeeklyAsado!
Panama’s bonds rallied after the nation’s supreme court cleared the way for frontrunner Jose Raul Mulino to compete in Sunday’s presidential election, removing a key risk for markets. https://t.co/0a4rPSclUo
Panama to elect new president against backdrop of social unrest and drought https://t.co/XRiZmIAytF
Ricardo Martinelli’s replacement in Sunday’s election, José Raúl Mulino, is the frontrunner thanks to Martinelli’s support. But Mulino has “strong character” and “would be the one who exercises power,” @EdwinECabreraU explains in our newsletter today. https://t.co/kwD2AuEHzS https://t.co/n7oAudfuFN
Interesting analysis of Panama's presidential frontrunner, José Raúl Molino, whose candidacy was deemed constitutional by Panama's Supreme Court a few hours ago. https://t.co/gFHBcH3vuT
Panama top court deems presidential frontrunner's candidacy constitutional https://t.co/pnXLes7tOE https://t.co/NGSg1jLES8
Panama Supreme Court rejects challenge to candidacy of presidential frontrunner days before vote (from @AP) By @Juan_Zamorano https://t.co/zat3iQvfdc
Panama Supreme Court rejects challenge to candidacy of presidential front-runner days before vote https://t.co/umkprKIwu4
#Panama | This decision is not surprising. Hard to imagine the SC declaring unconstitutional the leading candidate 2 days before elections! What’s disturbing is the delay, which generated great uncertainty. The SC, in effect, became an active player rather than neutral arbiter. https://t.co/dxRbKssWAZ
BREAKING: Panama Supreme Court rejects challenge to candidacy of presidential frontrunner days before vote https://t.co/Vpi3EaEDgr
#Panama | Mulino’s candidacy is constitutional. This gives a huge boost to Mulino (which remember is Martinelli). Interesting that on the day the publicity blackout goes in effect, the SC provides a PR bonanza for Mulino! https://t.co/Mk1OTSCSbF
⚠️ PANAMA TOP COURT DEEMS PRESIDENTIAL FRONTRUNNER'S CANDIDACY CONSTITUTIONAL Full Story → https://t.co/YspmzCA8IZ Panama's top court on Friday ruled the presidential candidacy of ex-President Ricardo Martinelli's former running mate Jose Raul Mulino is constitutional, days… https://t.co/bxnx4RqZJ8
Panama frontrunner could be barred days before presidential election https://t.co/BMgkEsc7n6
#Panama #PanamaDecide2024 BREAKING: Mulino’s candidacy does NOT violate constitution. https://t.co/pPhSqKQkHc
💡 Panama: Poll confirms Mulino as the clear-cut favorite in the presidential race - @EmergingMWatch on https://t.co/orvmA6Wqwk Full Story → https://t.co/hZ2p0B1vkP
Polls in Panama are extremely inconsistent https://t.co/gc8EAuYZZb
Whoever wins Sunday’s election in Panama “will not have a strong mandate from the electorate” or an easy time passing urgently needed laws, @EdwinECabreraU said. “That makes it likely that there will be new public uprisings.” Read more Friday in our @TheWilsonCenter newsletter. https://t.co/XXkYAcUhLq
Panamanians will elect a new president on Sunday. They have plenty to be unhappy about: the canal’s water levels are dwindling, a giant copper mine has been forced to close, and fiscal mismanagement and corruption continue https://t.co/F0t4JOrfIZ 👇
#Panama #PanamaDecide2024 Last poll by @prensacom gives Mulino a ~21% lead over second place. Unless things change dramatically, there are huge movements in the next three days or the polls are radically wrong, Mulino is the next president (assuming SC legitimizes his candidacy). https://t.co/pSG9yiUqZq
“Unemployment is above 50% among young people.” Panama’s presidential race sees candidates confront corruption and inequality for Sunday’s election https://t.co/EtYzDj4Ot6 https://t.co/LnSnZPqF78
#Panama | Some 3 million citizens are called to the polls to elect president, vice president, 20 deputies to the Central American Parliament, 71 deputies to the National Assembly, 81 mayors, 701 township representatives, and 11 councilors. https://t.co/eieByCjQM3
Excellent summary of how “surreal” #Panama’s presidential elections are. “Independents” running w/ party support; party affiliations less relevant than ever; leading candidate might not be constitutional; main player a convicted money launderer hiding in an embassy. ¡Pa comenzar! https://t.co/w8JS7aRFl0
💡 Panama: Supreme Court reportedly set to uphold Mulino’s presidential bid - @EmergingMWatch on https://t.co/orvmA6Wqwk Full Story → https://t.co/qWySCdDUF4
#Panama #PanamaDecide2024 Mulino meets with the @OAS_official observation mission & uses it to pressure the SC to rule in favor of his candidacy! ¡Que vaina! https://t.co/JtVekHHoLr
#Panama #PanamaDecide2024 According to the latest poll by @PanamaAmerica Mulino leads presidential race w/ 33.4%, with Torrijos & Lombana tied at 17.4%. If this is to be believed—and I have my doubts—there are no undecideds! @prensacom publishes their last poll tomorrow.
These are unusually anxious times for Panamanians, angsty over slow growth, public corruption, and the prospect of another social uprising. The leading presidential candidate is a stand-in for a former leader holed up in Nicaragua’s Embassy to avoid prison for money laundering.
All 👀in #Panama, where 4 days before the general elections the Supreme Court is meeting to decide if José Raúl Mulino, from the conservative Realizing Goals party and leader in the polls, can in fact be a candidate. A little 🧵 https://t.co/JeahjcUmW2
Election in Panama: Who are the 5 frontrunners in Sunday's presidential race https://t.co/pRFI2qzuxj https://t.co/gkDKIPt1op
⚠️ FACTBOX-WHO ARE THE FRONTRUNNERS IN PANAMA'S SUNDAY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Full Story → https://t.co/UrNukqFcZh Panamanians will elect a new president on Sunday, with eight candidates set to appear on the ballot, and polls showing mixed rankings among the five… https://t.co/ZO05nuORx5
Panama top court calls session on presidential frontrunner's candidacy https://t.co/M0OPFMOoI5 https://t.co/VYbXALbVHn
⚠️ PANAMA TOP COURT CALLS SESSION ON PRESIDENTIAL FRONTRUNNER'S CANDIDACY Full Story → https://t.co/R2lrT9XhzM Panama's top court kicked off an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday to decide on the constitutionality of the presidential candidacy of the former running mate of…