Panama Elections: Last-minute candidate Jose Raul Molino is headed for victory after his rivals made concessions

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Jose Raul Molino, former President Ricardo Martinelli’s replacement in Panama’s presidential election, is set to become the Central American nation’s new leader as authorities unofficially called the race Sunday night after his three closest rivals conceded. . .

The 64-year-old former security minister received nearly 35% of the votes after more than 92% of the votes were counted, giving him a nine-point lead over his closest rival.

Molino replaced Martinelli as the candidate after the controversial former leader was banned from running after he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering.

“Mission accomplished,” Molyneux told a crowd of supporters, adding an expletive for emphasis. “This is perhaps the most important date of my life, and the greatest responsibility of a Panamanian citizen falls on me and my family to lead the destiny of the nation.”

In his speech, he nodded to Martinelli, saying: “When you invited me to be vice president, I never imagined it.”

Molyneux, a less charismatic politician, was influenced by Martinelli’s popularity and the booming economy the former leader experienced while Martinelli campaigned while staying at the Nicaraguan embassy, ​​where he sought asylum.

Now, after one of the most turbulent elections in Panama’s modern history, Molino is poised to become the new leader of a country facing pressing challenges and growing discontent among many.

The president will face a slowing economy, historic levels of migration, a drought that is hampering transit in the Panama Canal and the economic fallout from last year’s massive anti-mining protests.

“It’s a very strange, unprecedented situation. I’ve never seen anything quite like this, not just in Panama, but in any other country in Latin America that I can think of,” said Michael Shifter, a senior fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue. “You are going through a turbulent period.”

Preliminary results showed that more than 77% of eligible voters cast their ballots, a historic turnout in a country where voting is not compulsory, which confirms the importance of the elections in the minds of Panamanians.

Panama does not have a runoff system, so the candidate who receives the largest share of the votes wins.

Molino, who ran under the Achieving Goals and Alliance Party, faced anti-corruption candidate Ricardo Lombana, who came in second place, after former president Martin Torrijos and former candidate Romulo Roo.

The three surrendered on Sunday evening, and the office of outgoing President Laurentino Cortizo said it had called Molino to offer congratulations and pledge to work with him for an orderly transition.

It appears that Molino’s relationships with Martinelli are what pushed him over the finish line. Molyneux ran on his promise to usher in another wave of economic prosperity and hold off Migration across the Darien GapIt is a dangerous jungle area that overlaps Colombia and Panama and through which half a million migrants crossed last year.

The lawyer also pledged to help his ally with his legal problems. After the vote on Sunday, Molyneux entered the Nicaraguan embassy followed by photographers and hugged Martinelli tightly, saying: “Brother, we will win!”

Before half the votes were even counted, supporters at Molyneux’s campaign headquarters erupted in celebration, singing and waving flags.

Martinelli posted a blurry photo of his face on the social media platform X, writing: “This is the face of a happy and satisfied man.” Shifter said Molyneux is now on his way to office, and what remains unclear is whether the president-elect will become “Martinelli’s puppet” or whether he will chart his own path.

Despite fatigue from Panama’s rampant corruption, many voters like Juan José Tinoco were willing to look the other way. Corruption scandals Their former leader was plagued by the booming economy he witnessed during his presidency. The 63-year-old bus driver voted for Molyneux from his working-class district of small concrete houses surrounded by expensive skyscrapers.

“We have problems with health services, education, garbage in the streets… and corruption that never goes away,” Tinoco said. “We have money here. This is a country with a lot of wealth, but we need a leader who will devote himself to Panama’s needs.”

The presidential race remained in limbo until Friday morning, when Panama’s Supreme Court ruled so Molino He let it run. She said he was qualified despite allegations that his candidacy was not legitimate because he was not elected in the primary.

Molyneux faces an uphill battle moving forward, particularly regarding the economy. Last year, the Central American country endured weeks of massive anti-government protests that came to epitomize a deeper discontent among citizens.

The protests targeted a government contract with a copper mine, which critics said endangered the environment and water at a time when drought has become so bad that it has effectively impeded commercial transit through the Panama Canal.

While many celebrated in November when the country’s Supreme Court convened The contract was declared unconstitutionalHowever, closing the mine and halting canal transit will put Panama’s new leader in an awkward position.

At the same time, the country’s debt is skyrocketing and much of the economy has slowed, Schefter said, from the Inter-American Dialogue, making it more difficult for Molyneux to organize a canal crossing and stop high levels of migration through the Darien Gap.

“Panama is going through a very different moment than it has been for the past 30 years,” Shifter said. Molyneux “will face enormous obstacles. “I mean, it’s going to be a tough job for him.”

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Janetsky reported from Mexico City.