Panamanians vote in tight presidential election
Panamanians vote in tight presidential election
By JUAN ZAMORANO and JOSHUA GOODMAN, Associated Press | May 3, 2014 | Updated: May 4, 2014 4:02am
PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panamanians are choosing President Ricardo Martinelli's successor in a three-way dogfight marked more by ugly personality clashes than any deep disagreements over the way forward for Latin America's standout economy.
Most pre-election polls for Sunday's contest show the front-runners in or near a technical tie, with a razor-thin lead for Martinelli's hand-picked candidate, former Housing Minister Jose Domingo Arias. The other main contenders, former Panama City Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro and Vice President Juan Carlos Varela, are duking it out for second place.
Martinelli, a billionaire supermarket magnate, is barred by Panama's constitution from seeking consecutive re-election, but many fear he'll be the power behind the throne if voters chose Arias, a soft-spoken newcomer.
As the race narrowed in recent weeks, Martinelli crisscrossed the tiny isthmus inaugurating hospitals, stadiums and Central America's first subway while warning the 3.2 million Panamanians that record-low unemployment and economic growth averaging over 8 percent since he took office in 2009 could be jeopardized if his enemies are elected.
His use of the bully pulpit has drawn widespread condemnation, as has his decision to place his wife, First Lady Marta Linares, on the Democratic Center ticket as Arias' running mate. Never since the United States' 1989 overthrow of military strongman Manuel Noriega has an incumbent party won re-election.
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