Panama
National Assembly
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Presidential system
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Unicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
View field in the data dictionary -
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
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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.
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05 May 2024
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Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
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No information available
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Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
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Upon normal expiry
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Expected date of next elections
The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
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31 May 2029
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
71
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Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
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Full renewal
Candidates
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Number of parties contesting the election
This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
View field in the data dictionary -
9
Voter turnout
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Registered voters
Number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
3,004,083
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Voters
Number of people who actually voted
View field in the data dictionary -
2,264,372
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Voter turnout
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
75.4%
Results
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About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
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The 2024 election returned a fragmented National Assembly. Only two parties won more than 10 seats in the 71-member legislature: Realizing Goals (RM), led by former President Ricardo Martinelli, and the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), which endorsed the incumbent President Laurentino Cortizo in 2019. With 13 seats, the PRD recorded its worst results.
In the presidential election held in parallel with the parliamentary polls, former public security minister José Raúl Mulino (RM), won the election with support from the Alliance Party. He is due to succeed outgoing President Cortizo (PRD) on 1 July (see note 1).
The key electoral issues in 2024 included: unemployment, the minimum wage, corruption, measures to counter migration, and water access (see note 2).
Note 1:
Outgoing presidents are ineligible for re-election, but can seek a new mandate after two terms out of office.Note 2:
Droughts have made access to potable water scarce in some regions and reduced the capacity of the Panama Canal, a centerpiece of the country’s GDP. -
Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
View field in the data dictionary -
8
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Percentage of parties winning seats
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
88.9%
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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.
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28.2%
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Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
View field in the data dictionary -
Yes
Parties or coalitions winning seats
| Political group | Total |
|---|---|
| Realizing Goals (RM) | 14 |
| Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) | 13 |
| Democratic Change (CD) | 8 |
| Panamenista Party | 8 |
| Another Way Movement (MOCA) | 3 |
| Alliance Party | 2 |
| People's Party (PP) | 2 |
| Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA) | 1 |
| Independents | 20 |
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
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55
- Number of women elected
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15
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Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
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21.4%
- Women Directly Elected
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15
- Sources
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National Assembly (10.07.2024)
https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/te-presenta-padron-electoral-final/
https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/resultados-elecciones-generales-2024/
https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/te-presenta-padron-electoral-final/
https://www.as-coa.org/articles/2024-elections-latin-america-preview#panama
https://edition.cnn.com
https://www.reuters.com
New legislature
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
55
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
15
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Percentage of women after the election
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.
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21.4%
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First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
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No information available
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Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.
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No information available
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
01 Jul 2024
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
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Dana Castañeda (Female)
Date of birth: 08 Feb 1968 -
Political party
The political party to which the Speaker belonged to at the moment of the election. In some parliaments, the Speaker suspends or relinquishes their party membership during their term in office and is considered as an independent member.
View field in the data dictionary -
Realizing Goals (RM)
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Date of election
The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.
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01 Jul 2024