Panamanian general election, 2004
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The Republic of Panama held a general election on Sunday, 2 May 2004, electing both a new President of the Republic and a new Legislative Assembly.
Presidential election
| Candidate | Party/Alliance | Votes | %[1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martín Torrijos | New Fatherland (PN) | 711,164 | 47.44% |
| Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) | 649,157 | 43.29% | |
| People's Party (PP) | 62,007 | 4.15% | |
| Guillermo Endara | Solidarity Party (PS) | 462,824 | 30.86% |
| José Miguel Alemán | Vision of the Country (VDP) | 245,568 | 16.39% |
| Arnulfista Party (PA) | 162,830 | 10.88% | |
| National Liberal Republican Movement (MOLIRENA) | 60,106 | 4.00% | |
| National Liberal Party (PLN) | 22,632 | 1.51% | |
| Ricardo Martinelli | Democratic Change Party (PCD) | 79,491 | 5.31% |
| Total valid votes | 1,499,047 | 100% | |
| Spoilt and invalid votes | 38,295 | 2.49% | |
| Total votes/Turnout | 1,537,342 | 76.88% | |
| Registered voters | 1,999,553 | ||
| Population | 2,940,000 | ||
For the second consecutive election, Martín Torrijos, son of former military ruler Omar Torrijos, was named the candidate of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD); in 1999, he had lost to Mireya Moscoso. Torrijos ran on a platform of strengthening democracy and negotiating a free trade agreement with the US, and was supported by popular musician and politician Rubén Blades;[2] Torrijos later made Blades the nation's tourism minister.[3] Torrijos' primary rival was Guillermo Endara, who had served as president from 1990 to 1994. Endara ran as the candidate of the Solidarity Party, on a platform of reducing crime and government corruption.[4] Endara and the other candidates also ran a series of negative ads highlighting the PRD's connections with former military ruler Manuel Noriega.[5] Endara finished second in the race, receiving 31% of the vote to Torrijos' 47%.[2]
Torrijos assumed office on 1 September 2004. Voters also elected his two vice-presidents, who run on party tickets in conjunction with the presidential candidates.
Legislative and local elections
In addition to its president and vice presidents, Panama elected a new Legislative Assembly (78 members), 20 deputies to represent the country at the Central American Parliament, and a string of mayors and other municipal officers.
Legislative election results[6]
| Parties and alliances | Votes/districts | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Fatherland (PN) | 636,675 | 43.82% | 42 |
| Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) | 549,948 | 37.85% | 41 |
| People's Party (PP) | 86,727 | 5.97% | 1 |
| Vision of the Country (VDP) | 481,298 | 33.12% | 24 |
| Arnulfista Party (PA) | 279,560 | 19.24% | 17 |
| National Liberal Republican Movement (MOLIRENA) | 125,547 | 8.64% | 4 |
| National Liberal Party (PLN) | 76,191 | 5.24% | 3 |
| Solidarity Party (PS) | 227,604 | 15.66% | 9 |
| Democratic Change Party (PCD) | 107,511 | 7.40% | 3 |
| Total valid votes | 1,453,088 | 100% | 78 |
| Spoilt and invalid votes | 71,888 | 4.71% | |
| Total votes/Turnout | 1,524,976 | 76.27% | |
| Registered voters | 1,999,553 | ||
| Population | 2,940,000 | ||
The Panama City mayor race was won also by the PRD. Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro was re-elected.
References
- ↑ Elections in the Americas : a data handbook / ed. by Dieter Nohlen, Vol. 1. [Oxford] [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press, 2005. Pp.535.
- 1 2 "Not his father's son? Panama's new president.(Martin Torrijos)". The Economist. May 8, 2004. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
- ↑ "Nicky Hilton Weds One Hilton ...". The Washington Post. – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . August 16, 2004. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
- ↑ Mark Stevenson (May 2, 2004). "Guillermo Endara, former president of Panama, fights against corruption, crime". Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
- ↑ Mary Jordan (May 2, 2004). "General's Son Leads in Panama; Running as a Pro-Capitalist Nationalist, Torrijos Emerges as Favorite in Polls". The Washington Post. – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . Retrieved September 18, 2012.
- ↑ Elections in the Americas : a data handbook / ed. by Dieter Nohlen, Vol. 1. [Oxford] [u.a.] : Oxford Univ. Press, 2005. Pp.528.
External links
- Official Results (Panamanian Electoral Tribunal)
- Panama elects ex-dictator's son (BBC)
- First election since Canal handover (The Guardian)
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