Panama

National Assembly

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
05.05.2019
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
30.06.2019
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.05.2024
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
71
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
581
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
484
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
97
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
16.7%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
The alliance between the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) and Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA) secured the majority in the 71-member National Assembly, wining a total of 40 seats. It took nearly double the seats of Democratic Change (CD). The Panameñista Party of outgoing President Juan Carlos Varela came third. In the presidential elections, businessman and former MP Laurentino Cortizo (PRD) defeated Mr. Romulo Roux (CD). Mr. Cortizo was sworn in as the new President on 1 July.

The 2019 elections followed two major corruption scandals known as the Panama Papers and the Odebrecht scandal (see note). During election campaigning, many parties promised to end government corruption and combat inequality.

Note:
In 2016, millions of leaked documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca revealed its role in global tax evasion and corruption schemes. Panama was also implicated in the Odebrecht scandal, in which top politicians allegedly received kickbacks and bribes from the Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
4
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
49.3%
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) 35
Democratic Change (CD) 18
Panamenista Party 8
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA) 5
Independents 5
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
56
Number of women elected
15
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
21.13%
Sources
National Assembly (12.06.2019, 02.07.2019, 05.07.2019)
Tribunal Electoral (03.01.2020)
Women Directly Elected
15

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
56
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
15
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
01.07.2019
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Marcos Castillero (Male)
Political party
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD)
Date of election
01.07.2019