Former law enforcement chief Mulino wins Panama’s presidency
Former law enforcement chief Mulino wins Panama’s presidency
After taking over a campaign rocked by scandal, the combative political insider will face a series of challenges governing
This is a special PWS election feature, by freelance journalist Corey Kane in Panama
A year ago, no one gave much thought to José Raúl Mulino. He was a sideman ex-head of state Ricardo Martinelli. But when his boss was convicted of money laundering and fled to Nicaragua. Mulino took over the top of the ticket and will now also take over Panama’s highest office starting in July after winning 34% of the vote on Sunday.
Mulino has never held elected office before. After Martinelli’s conviction, courts ruled that Mulino could replace Martinelli at the top of the ticket for the Realizando Metas (Achieving Goals) party.
During the campaign, Mulino leaned in heavily with his relationship to Martinelli, president during an economic boom period for the Central American nation. Mulino has pledged to bring the good times back, with a commitment to ambitious public works projects.
“[My supporters] have hope that we will get out of the hole we’ve been in for the past 10 years,” Mulino said at his acceptance speech Sunday night.
“Mission accomplished, Ricardo,” Mulino shouted several times at his acceptance speech, addressing his former running mate in exile.
Unlike much of Latin America, Panama has no run-off election rules. A simple plurality wins.
The second place finisher was Ricardo Lombana, who represented the relatively new Another Path Movement party, with 25% of the vote. Long-established candidates and parties did poorly in the presidential race.
Former president Martín Torrijos, son of the military dictator who preceded Manuel Noriega, finished in third place with 16%. Rómulo Roux, who ran in an alliance with the traditional Panameñista party finished fourth with 11%.
“Mission accomplished, Ricardo,” Mulino shouted several times at his acceptance speech, addressing his former running mate in exile.
Nicaragua awarded Martinelli asylum, and the former president has been holed up in their Panama City consulate during the later stages of the campaign. Mulino has also called for an ambitious Constitutional Convention, remaking the judicial branch.
Mulino was the only candidate who made irregular migration through the Darién province a significant campaign issue. Mulino told reporters he would “close the Darién” in April. However, he was not specific on plans to close the mountainous jungle border with Colombia (probably because it would be logistically impossible).
His campaign also featured elements that critics described as "authoritarian”. Panama recently experienced large anti-mining protests. As security chief, he called protesters “scum”.
Mulino comes into office with a strong mandate, amidst the highest voter turnout in recent years. For Panamanians’ sake, however, he should break with the opaque style of his predecessor and engage in dialogue rather than confrontation.
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