Gearing up for Sunday's election in Panama

The World Politics Review conducted an interview with Orlando Perez about this weekend's elections in Panama.

WPR: What are the major domestic issues at stake in Panama's presidential election?

Orlando J. Pérez: The electoral campaign has been framed around the dynamic of continuity versus change. The government has touted social spending, infrastructure investments and economic growth. The government candidate, Jose Domingo Arias, has campaigned on continuing and expanding President Ricardo Martinelli’s populist policies. The government has spent a significant amount of money on publicity promoting its infrastructure projects, such as a new urban subway system. And it has sought to scare voters about the potential of the opposition reducing—or ending—social programs. 

The opposition has focused on corruption and the president's authoritarian style. Martinelli has been embroiled in several corruption cases involving kickbacks from foreign companies investing in Panama. Politically, Martinelli has sought to dominate the judicial and legislative branches by packing the courts and luring opposition legislators to his coalition with the promise of government investment in their districts. 

Panama's constitution prohibits immediate presidential re-election. However, the nomination of the first lady, Marta Linares de Martinelli, as the vice presidential candidate on the government party's ticket has been seen as a clear sign of the president's desire to remain influential after the elections. Given the likelihood of a very close election, a key question is the extent to which the independence of the Electoral Tribunal will be respected and the outcome accepted by all candidates.

Go read the entire interview (if you are blocked, go though a social media link). You can also read Orlando's guest post on this site from September 2013 when he spoke about many of the ways that Panama has changed over the last two decades.