Panamanian general election, 2004
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This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Panama |
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Legislature |
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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)