José Raúl Mulino is the big favorite in the polls for Sunday’s elections in Panama
The Supreme Court of Justice of Panama (CSJ) declared on Friday that the decision of the Electoral Tribunal (TE) of March 4 to nominate as presidential candidate José Raúl Mulino, favorite of the polls for the general elections on Sunday, to replace in extremis former president Ricardo Martinelli, disqualified after being sentenced to more than ten years in prison, was “not unconstitutional”.
The court’s decision calms intrigue in the week leading up to the elections, in which 4.4 million Panamanians will participate. Mr. Mulino is credited with 37.6% of voting intentions, according to the latest survey carried out by the company Mercadeo Planificado. His closest competitors have respectively 16.4% (Martín Torrijos) and 14.9% (Rómulo Roux) of voting intentions.
” I am very happy “.
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli did not hesitate to speak out after the Supreme Court’s announcement. “I am very happy because truth, law and justice always win in the end. I congratulate the Supreme Court of Justice for having made the right decision which will guarantee respect for democracy in Panama and will serve as an example for future electoral processes,” he said on his X account, formerly Twitter.
Recall that Mr. Martinelli was at the head of voting intentions before the presidential elections in Panama, although he was disqualified as a presidential candidate, that he currently enjoys asylum in the Nicaraguan embassy and that he was convicted of alleged money laundering. Justice sentenced the former Panamanian president to 10 years and 6 months in prison, as well as a fine of more than 19 million dollars.
Although Mulino does not enjoy the same popular support as Martinelli, the former president did not hesitate to support the candidacy of the man who was, during his government (2009-2014), his Minister of Security and Government. Furthermore, José Raúl Mulino, who represents the Realizando Metas y Alianza party in the May 5 elections, entered the electoral race to replace Martinelli at the last minute.
