Panama
Presidential Election Enters
Final Phase
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Panama
Presidential Election Enters
Final Phase
Panama - Panama's
general election campaign officially ended
on Thursday, ahead of the May 3 polls, when
2.2 million Panamanians are registered to
choose their next president and 1,594 other
posts.
The leading candidates to replace current
president Martin Torrijos, who will leave
office on May 1, are Ricardo Martinelli of
the opposition Democratic Change Party,
Balbina Herrera of the ruling Democratic
Revolutionary Party and former president
Guillermo Endara.
Just three days ahead of the elections, the
nation's Supreme Court of Justice ruled that
the professor from University of Panama,
Juan Jovanne, can participate in the
elections as an independent presidential
candidate, overruling the Electoral Code,
which says such candidates must represent a
registered party.
Also up for grabs are 71 seats in the
National Assembly, 20 seats in the Central
American Parliament, 75 mayoral posts and
623local council seats.
The country has been divided into 14
electoral areas for this year's vote.
Panamanians living abroad will be able to
vote for the first time. |
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