Panama

National Assembly

Political system: Presidential system
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
IPU membership: Yes

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): 05 May 2019
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 30 Jun 2019
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: 31 May 2024
Number of seats at stake: 71
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates: 581
Number of male candidates: 484
Number of female candidates: 97
Percentage of women candidates: 16.7%

Results

About 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: 4
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 49.3%

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
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: 21.1%
Women Directly Elected: 15
Sources: National Assembly (12.06.2019, 02.07.2019, 05.07.2019)

Tribunal Electoral (03.01.2020)

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 56
Total number of women after the election: 15
Percentage of women after the election: 21.1%
First-term parliamentarians: No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: No information available
Date of the first session: 01 Jul 2019

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Marcos Castillero (Male)
Date of birth: 1974
Political party: Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD)
Date of election: 01 Jul 2019