Torrijos party returns to power in Panama | …

Laurentino Cortizo, of the opposition Democratic Democrat Party (PRD), was elected president of Panama with a two-point lead over Rómulo Roux, a right-wing party. The victory of the former Minister of Agriculture Cortizo was confirmed by the President of the Electoral Court, Heriberto Araúz, after a long day of counting the vote that lasted until yesterday afternoon . "You are the virtual winner of the post of President of the Republic for the quinquennium 2019-2024," Araúz told the new president during a phone call broadcast by the media. With 33.19% of the vote, Cortizo defeated his main opponent of liberal democratic change, who won 31.02%.

The Social Democratic Party PRD, founded by Omar Torrijos, has not run for president since the 2004 elections with the victory of his son Martín Torrijos. The PRD was also the winner of the Parliament. Of the 71 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, this party stayed with 29 while the liberal CD led by Roux got 17, eight less than in the last elections of 2014. While the official party Panameñista had left with eight deputies, half of those he had obtained in the previous election.

As soon as he received the announcement of his victory, the elected president and international trade expert called on the nationwide unity to face the challenges that lie ahead as of the July 1, when he will succeed President Juan Carlos Varela. Among the challenges to be met, Cortizo said that he would review the free trade agreements with the US and Central America, while saying that he would impose the name of his country "tainted "on the list of tax havens. "Whether we like it or not, we like the FTA to be a treaty that we, Panama, must respect, but we know that certain clauses of the treaty allow us to apply for review," he said. Cortizo said, adding that they would be cautious because the United States is their main partner.

Cortizo, a businessman and breeder, was also in favor of revising trade agreements with Central American countries, saying that Panamanian producers were disgusted by the fact that imports are shifting their products. "I know there are other treaties in Central America that we are going to request a review, such as Costa Rica and Nicaragua," said Cortizo without giving further details.

The elected president also pointed out that he will uphold the interests of Panama, a phrase that he and his environment have repeated during the campaign. Among his plans is to create a group of experts to develop a "rescue" strategy of the country's name, three years after its unveiling as a shrine to the tax evasion of the rich, celebrities and powerful thanks to the "Panama Papers ". . "Of the 125 commitments we have in the action plan, the number one is talking about saving the name of Panama," said Cortizo.

Panama has made legal reforms to adapt to the international fight against money laundering and tax evasion, which is why it has left the list of tax havens this year.