2004 Panamanian general election explained
| Country: | Panama |
| Previous Election: | 1999 Panamanian general election |
| Previous Year: | 1999 |
| Next Election: | 2009 Panamanian general election |
| Next Year: | 2009 |
| Module: | | Embed: | yes | | Election Name: | Presidential election | | Type: | presidential | | Image1: | Panama.MartinTorrijos.01.jpg | | Nominee1: | Martín Torrijos | | Party1: | Democratic Revolutionary Party | | Popular Vote1: | 711,164 | | Percentage1: | 47.44% | | Nominee2: | Guillermo Endara | | Party2: | Solidarity Party (Panama) | | Popular Vote2: | 462,824 | | Percentage2: | 30.87% | | Nominee4: | José Miguel Alemán | | Party4: | Arnulfista | | Popular Vote4: | 245,568 | | Percentage4: | 16.38% | | Image5: | Ricardo Martinelli.PNG | | Nominee5: | Ricardo Martinelli | | Party5: | Democratic Change (Panama) | | Popular Vote5: | 79,491 | | Percentage5: | 5.30% | | President | | Before Election: | Mireya Moscoso | | Before Party: | Panameñista Party | | After Election: | Martin Torrijos | | After Party: | Democratic Revolutionary Party |
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General elections were held in Panama on Sunday, 2 May 2004, electing both a new President of the Republic and a new Legislative Assembly.
Results
President
For the second consecutive election, Martín Torrijos, son of former military ruler Omar Torrijos, was named the candidate of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD); in 1999, he had lost to Mireya Moscoso. Torrijos ran on a platform of strengthening democracy and negotiating a free trade agreement with the US, and was supported by popular musician and politician Rubén Blades; Torrijos later made Blades the nation's tourism minister.[1] Torrijos' primary rival was Guillermo Endara, who had served as president from 1990 to 1994. Endara ran as the candidate of the Solidarity Party, on a platform of reducing crime and government corruption.[2] Endara and the other candidates also ran a series of negative ads highlighting the PRD's connections with former military ruler Manuel Noriega.[3] Endara finished second in the race, receiving 31% of the vote to Torrijos' 47%.[4]
Torrijos assumed office on 1 September 2004. Voters also elected his two vice-presidents, who run on party tickets in conjunction with the presidential candidates.
Legislative Assembly
In addition to its president and vice presidents, Panama elected a new Legislative Assembly (78 members), 20 deputies to represent the country at the Central American Parliament, and a string of mayors and other municipal officers.
The Panama City mayor race was won also by the PRD. Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro was re-elected.
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Nicky Hilton Weds One Hilton ... . https://web.archive.org/web/20160312141157/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-192683.html . dead . March 12, 2016 . August 16, 2004 . The Washington Post. September 18, 2012.
- Web site: Guillermo Endara, former president of Panama, fights against corruption, crime . Mark Stevenson . May 2, 2004 . Associated Press . September 23, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140923091102/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-94049662.html . dead . August 31, 2012.
- Web site: General's Son Leads in Panama; Running as a Pro-Capitalist Nationalist, Torrijos Emerges as Favorite in Polls . https://web.archive.org/web/20160414115843/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-168124.html . dead . April 14, 2016 . Mary Jordan . May 2, 2004 . The Washington Post . September 18, 2012.
- Web site: Not his father's son? Panama's new president.(Martin Torrijos) . https://web.archive.org/web/20140928140916/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-116378324.html . dead . September 28, 2014 . May 8, 2004 . The Economist . August 31, 2012.
