Panama has elected a new president
Center-left candidate Laurentino Cortizo has been declared the winner of Panama’s presidential election.
In an unexpectedly close race, Mr Cortizo finished two percentage points ahead of his center-right rival, Rómulo Roux.
The elections have been dominated by pledges to fight corruption and to tackle Panama’s image as a money-laundering country.
The country’s electoral tribunal says 95% of ballots have been counted, with Mr Cortizo winning 33% of votes, followed by Mr Roux with 31%.
Mr Cortizo has vowed to fight corruption by reforming laws that govern how public contracts are awarded.
Other major issues have included rising unemployment, Panama’s education system, and the state of water utilities and rubbish collection in the capital, Panama City.
Who is Laurentino Cortizo?
Laurentino “Nito” Cortizo, 66, is the candidate for Panama’s Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD).
His party, founded by military ruler Omar Torrijos in 1979, has been out of power since 2009.
Mr Cortizo was educated in the US and he has previously served as minister of agriculture.
He has also held roles at the regional Organization of American States, and worked in the construction and livestock sectors.
Written by Radio Grito de Baire
