2004 Panamanian general election

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;<ref name=E /> Torrijos later made Blades the nation's tourism minister.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=AP>Template:Cite web</ref> Endara and the other candidates also ran a series of negative ads highlighting the PRD's connections with former military ruler Manuel Noriega.<ref name=WP52>Template:Cite web</ref> Endara finished second in the race, receiving 31% of the vote to Torrijos' 47%.<ref name=E>Template:Cite web</ref>

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

• Official Results (Panamanian Electoral Tribunal)
• Panama elects ex-dictator's son (BBC)
• First election since Canal handover (The Guardian)