| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Asamblea Nacional / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
3 May 2009 |
| Timing and scope of renewal |
Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. |
As in the past, parliamentary elections were held at the same time as the presidential polls. At stake were 71 seats in the National Assembly.
In the previous elections to the then 78-member National Assembly, held in May 2004, the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) won 41 seats. Its leader, Mr. Martín Torrijos, won the presidential election with the support of the New Fatherland Alliance (NP), which comprised the PRD and the Popular Party (PP). The parties in the Vision of the Country Alliance (VP) - the Arnulfista Party (PA), the Nationalist Liberal Republican Movement (MOLIRENA) and the National Liberal Party (PLN) - won 17, four and three seats respectively. The Solidarity Party of former president Guillermo Endara took nine seats. The remainder went to small parties.
President Torrijos was elected on a pledge to implement tax reform and sign a free trade agreement with the United States. However, the agreement was held up in the US Congress amid concern about Panama's status as an off-shore tax haven and had not been ratified by the 2009 elections.
Major contenders in the 2009 elections were the PRD-led coalition, One Country for All (PPT, Un pais para todos), and the Democratic Change (CD)-led Alliance for Change (APC, Alianza para el cambio). Former president Endara, who led the Moral Vanguard of the Homeland (VMP), was also running for president.
The PPT comprised the PRD, the PP and the Liberal Party (PL) of Mr. Joaquín Fernando Franco. It endorsed former housing minister, Ms. Balbina Herrera, as its presidential candidate.
The APC comprised the CD, the Panamenista Party (PPA, led by Mr. Juan Carlos Varela), the Patriotic Union Party (PUP, led by Mr. Raúl Mulino) and MOLIRENA. The APC's candidate was Mr. Ricardo Martinelli (CD), the owner of Panama's biggest supermarket chain, who pledged to improve the health system, education, transportation and security. He also pledged to finalize the free trade agreement with the United States. The CD promised to help young entrepreneurs and increase spending on education.
PRD leader Herrera took Mr. Martinelli to task for what she considered to be his disdainful attitude towards the poor including peasants and housemaids. Referring to her own background as the daughter of a maid, she expressed great pride in having risen to the position of presidential candidate. She further stated that "people's conscience and dignity cannot be bought in supermarkets".
Mr. Martinelli urged voters to support the APC on the grounds that the PRD government had left 40 per cent of the population poor. Although he had taken only five per cent of the votes in the 2004 presidential race, Mr. Martinelli was said to have greater support in 2009 thanks to the worries caused by the global economic crisis.
On 3 May, 70.04 per cent of the country's 2.2 million voters turned out at the polls. The final results in the parliamentary elections gave a total of 42 seats to the APC and 27 to the PPT. The remainder went to independents. The VMP failed to win parliamentary representation.
In the presidential elections, Mr. Martinelli was elected with nearly 60 per cent of the vote; Ms. Herrera took about 38 per cent.
On 1 July, the newly elected National Assembly held its first session and elected Mr. José Luis Varela Rodríguez (Panamenista) as its new Speaker.
On 1 July, Mr. Ricardo Martinelli was sworn in as the country's new President. |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 3 May 2009 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
2'209'555
1'547'733 (70.05%)
93'510
1'454'223 |
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% of votes |
|
|
| Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) |
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| Panamenista Party |
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|
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| Democratic Change (CD) |
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| Patriotic Union |
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|
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| Independents |
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| Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA) |
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| People's Party |
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| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total of seats
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) |
26
|
|
|
|
|
| Panamenista Party |
21
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Change (CD) |
15
|
|
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|
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| Patriotic Union |
4
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA) |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| People's Party |
1
|
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|
|
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| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
65
6
8.45%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
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| Distribution of seats according to profession |
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| Comments |
Note:
The Alliance for Change (APC) included the following parties.
- Panamenista Party: 21 seats
- Democratic Change: 15 seats
- Patriotic Union: four seats
- Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA): two seats
The One Country for All (PPT) included the following parties.
- Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD): 26 seats
- People's Party (PP): one seat
Sources:
- Legislative Assembly (21.05.2009)
- http://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/ |
