2004 Panamanian general election

The Republic of Panama held a general election on Sunday, 2 May 2004, electing both a new President of the Republic and a new Legislative Assembly.

2004 Panamanian general election
2 May 2004 (2004-05-02)
 
Nominee Martín Torrijos Guillermo Endara José Miguel Alemán
Party PRD Solidarity Panameñista
Popular vote 711,164 462,824 462,824
Percentage 47.44% 37.54% 30.86%
President before election

Mireya Moscoso
Panameñista

 Elected President

Martin Torrijos
Democratic Revolutionary

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Presidential election
Candidate Party/Alliance Votes %[1]
Martín Torrijos New Fatherland (PN) 711,164 47.44%
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) 649,157 43.29%
People's Party (PP) 62,007 4.15%
Guillermo Endara Solidarity Party (PS) 462,824 30.86%
José Miguel Alemán Vision of the Country (VDP) 245,568 16.39%
Arnulfista Party (PA) 162,830 10.88%
National Liberal Republican Movement (MOLIRENA) 60,106 4.00%
National Liberal Party (PLN) 22,632 1.51%
Ricardo Martinelli Democratic Change Party (PCD) 79,491 5.31%
Total valid votes 1,499,047 100%
Spoilt and invalid votes 38,295 2.49%
Total votes/Turnout 1,537,342 76.88%
Registered voters 1,999,553
Population 2,940,000

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;[2] Torrijos later made Blades the nation's tourism minister.[3] 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.[4] Endara and the other candidates also ran a series of negative ads highlighting the PRD's connections with former military ruler Manuel Noriega.[5] Endara finished second in the race, receiving 31% of the vote to Torrijos' 47%.[2]

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 and local elections

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.

Legislative election results[6]

Parties and alliances Votes/districts % Seats
New Fatherland (PN) 636,675 43.82% 42
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) 549,948 37.85% 41
People's Party (PP) 86,727 5.97% 1
Vision of the Country (VDP) 481,298 33.12% 24
Arnulfista Party (PA) 279,560 19.24% 17
National Liberal Republican Movement (MOLIRENA) 125,547 8.64% 4
National Liberal Party (PLN) 76,191 5.24% 3
Solidarity Party (PS) 227,604 15.66% 9
Democratic Change Party (PCD) 107,511 7.40% 3
Total valid votes 1,453,088 100% 78
Spoilt and invalid votes 71,888 4.71%
Total votes/Turnout 1,524,976 76.27%
Registered voters 1,999,553
Population 2,940,000

The Panama City mayor race was won also by the PRD. Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro was re-elected.

References
  1. Elections in the Americas : a data handbook / ed. by Dieter Nohlen, Vol. 1. [Oxford] [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press, 2005. Pp.535.
  2. "Not his father's son? Panama's new president.(Martin Torrijos)". The Economist. May 8, 2004. Archived from the original on September 28, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
  3. "Nicky Hilton Weds One Hilton ..." The Washington Post.  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . August 16, 2004. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  4. Mark Stevenson (May 2, 2004). "Guillermo Endara, former president of Panama, fights against corruption, crime". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 23, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
  5. Mary Jordan (May 2, 2004). "General's Son Leads in Panama; Running as a Pro-Capitalist Nationalist, Torrijos Emerges as Favorite in Polls". The Washington Post.  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  6. Elections in the Americas : a data handbook / ed. by Dieter Nohlen, Vol. 1. [Oxford] [u.a.] : Oxford Univ. Press, 2005. Pp.528.
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