Politics of Panama

The politics of Panama take place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic with multi-party system, whereby the President of Panama is both head of state and head of government.

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Executive power is exercised by the president. Legislative power is vested in the National Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The branches are according to Panama's Political Constitution of 1972, reformed by the Actos Reformatorios of 1978 and the Acto Constitucional of 1983, united in cooperation and limited through a system of checks and balances.

Three independent organizations with clearly defined responsibilities are found in the constitution: the Comptroller General of the Republic has the responsibility to manage public funds; the Electoral Tribunal has the responsibility to guarantee liberty, transparency, and the efficacy of the popular vote; and the Ministry of the Public oversees interests of State and of the municipalities.

The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Panama a "flawed democracy" in 2019.[1]

Executive branch
OfficeNamePartySince
PresidentLaurentino CortizoDemocratic Revolutionary PartyJuly 1, 2019
Vice PresidentJosé Gabriel CarrizoDemocratic Revolutionary PartyJuly 1, 2019

The Executive Branch includes a president and one vice-president. The president and vice-president are elected on a single ballot for a five-year term by direct popular vote. Presidents are not allowed to immediately run for re-election, but can run again after waiting five years.

State Ministers
  • Minister of Agricultural and Livestock Development: Enrique Carles
  • Minister of Canal Affairs: Roberto Roy
  • Minister of Commerce and Industries: Augusto R. Arosemena M.
  • Minister of Economy and Finance: Dulcidio de la Guardia
  • Minister of Education: Maruja Gorday de Villalobos[2]
  • Ministry of Environment: Emilio Sempris
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs: Alejandro Ferrer
  • Minister of Health: Rosario Turner Montenegro[3]
  • Minister of Housing: Mario Etchelecu
  • Minister of Government: María Luisa Romero
  • Minister of the Presidency: Álvaro Alemán
  • Minister of Public Security: Alexis Bethancourt
  • Minister of Public Works: Ramón Arosemena
  • Minister of Social Development: Alcibiades Vásquez
  • Minister of Work and Labor Development: Luis Ernesto Carles
  • Attorney General: Kenia Isolda Porcell Alvarado
  • Manager, National Bank of Panama: Rolando Julio de León Alba
  • Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York: Laura E. Flores H.

(Source: CIA World Factbook: World Leaders, Panama)

Legislative branch
The National Assembly of Panama.

The legislative branch consists of a unicameral National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional), composed of 71 members elected to five-year terms from single- and multi-seat constituencies.

Judiciary

The Judicial Organ administers justice in a permanent, free and expeditious manner. It comprises the Supreme Court of Justice, the Tribunals, and the judges established by law, according to the constitution of Panama (title VII, chapter 1).

Elections
Further information: Elections in Panama

An autonomous Electoral Tribunal supervises voter registration, the election process, and the activities of political parties. Everyone over the age of 18 are required to vote, although those who fail to do so are not penalized.

 Summary of the 3 May 2009 Panamanian presidential election results
Candidates Parties Votes %
Ricardo Martinelli Democratic Change, Patriotic Union Party, Panameñista Party, Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement 952,333 59.97
Balbina Herrera Democratic Revolutionary Party, People's Party, Liberal Party 597,227 37.70
Guillermo Endara Fatherland's Moral Vanguard Party 36,867 2.33
Valid votes (turnout 73.99%) 1,558,445 100.0
Blank votes 19,105 1.17
Invalid votes 30,976 1.89
Total votes 1,636,508 100.00
Source: Tribunal Electoral

Political culture
Further information: List of political parties in Panama

The dominant political parties in Panamanian history have been the PRD and the Panameñista (former Arnulfista Party). These parties were founded by charismatic and strong political enemies, Omar Torrijos (PRD)—the deceased father of the previous president, Martín Torrijos—and Arnulfo Arias (Panameñista/Arnulfista), late husband of the ex-president, Mireya Moscoso. Even though these leaders died years ago, their aura is revived by their followers, and they are present in every election.

Panamanian politics have historically been corrupt. Lately, the Panamanian society and press are auditing and fighting for improvements. A sign of this is the lack of young votes in the referendum of October 22, 2006, showing a lack of confidence in Panamanian politics and politicians.

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See also

References
  1. The Economist Intelligence Unit (January 8, 2019). "Democracy Index 2019". Economist Intelligence Unit. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  2. http://www.meduca.gob.pa/autoridades
  3. https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/sociedad/ministra-de-salud-rosario-turner-reafirma-compromiso-de-la-construccion-del-hospital-del

Further reading
  • Harding, Robert C. (2001). Military Foundations of Panamanian Politics. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7658-0075-6.
  • Harding, Robert C. (2006). The History of Panama. Greenwood Publishing. ISBN 978-0-313-33322-4.
  • Mellander, Gustavo A.; Nelly Maldonado Mellander (1999). Charles Edward Magoon: The Panama Years. Río Piedras, Puerto Rico: Editorial Plaza Mayor. ISBN 1-56328-155-4. OCLC 42970390.
  • Mellander, Gustavo A. (1971). The United States in Panamanian Politics: The Intriguing Formative Years. Danville, Ill.: Interstate Publishers. OCLC 138568.
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