Opposition
Candidate Wins Panama Presidential Elections
Martinelli:
Panama Needs To Adjust Tts U.S.-Oriented
Trade Policy
Nicaragua Rules Out 15 Possible Cases of
A/H1N1
Magnitude 6.1
Earthquake Hits Guatemala
Opposition
Candidate Wins Panama Presidential Elections
Panama -
Ricardo Martinelli, a supermarket magnate
and candidate of the opposition Democratic
Change Party (DC), won Panama's presidential
elections on Sunday, said Erasmo Pinilla,
president of the National Electoral Council
(NEC).
Of the 60 percent of votes counted,
Martinelli gained 60.64 percent and former
Housing Minister Balbina Herrera of Panama's
governing coalition gained 36.85 percent,
showed results of the NEC.
Guillermo Endara, candidate of Fatherland's
Moral Vanguard party, obtained 2.51 percent.
Shortly after casting his vote, Martinelli
told Xinhua that he would " initiate a
process of transparency that does not exist
in Panama" and put into jail those who are
found guilty of corruption.
The country should also seek other
possibilities and focus primarily on the
business relationship with the United
States, he added.
The 59-year-old business tycoon will take
office on July 1 when the term of incumbent
President Martin Torrijos expires.
This is the second time Martinelli has run
in a presidential race. In the 2004
election, Martinelli finished last out of
four candidates with only 5.3 percent of the
vote.
Panama's presidential candidate Ricardo
Martinelli(C) gives his victory speech after
winning the election in Panama City, Sunday,
May 3, 2009.
Panama's presidential candidate Ricardo
Martinelli(C) gives his victory speech after
winning the election in Panama City, Sunday,
May 3, 2009.
(Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>>
Analysts said Martinelli won the elections
thanks to his campaign for Panama's social
reform with the slogan "for a real change",
which is attractive to the middle class and
impoverished social sectors.
Martinelli said his priority is to improve
the unequal distribution of wealth in this
Central American country, where some 40
percent of its population live in poverty
and 12 percent in abject poverty despite
years of robust economic growth.
During his presidential campaign, Martinelli
made such promises as fighting corruption,
ameliorating living conditions of senior
citizens and improving transport systems.
He also said he would review Panama's ties
with China once he were elected. The Central
American country currently does not have
diplomatic relations with China.
Martinelli, 47, is the owner of the Super 99
supermarket chain, which is the largest in
the country.
He served as director of the Chamber of
Commerce of Panama from1985 to 1987 and
director of social security from 1994 to
1996.
From 1999 to 2003, he worked as chairman of
the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal
Authority and minister of canal affairs.
The general elections of Panama finished at
4:00 p.m. (2100 GMT) on Sunday. Some 2.2
million people were eligible to vote. Voters
also elected one vice president, 71 members
of the national assembly, mayors and members
of municipal councils.
|
|
|
|
|
