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 2024
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
No information available
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections
31 May 2029
Number of seats at stake
71
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
9

Voter turnout

Registered voters
3,004,083
Voters
2,264,372
Voter turnout
75.4%

Results

About the election

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
8
Percentage of parties winning seats
88.9%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
28.2%
Alternation of power after elections
Yes

Parties or coalitions winning seats

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
55
Number of women elected
15
Percentage of women elected
21.4%
Women Directly Elected
15
Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
55
Total number of women after the election
15
Percentage of women after the election
21.4%
First-term parliamentarians
No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
No information available
Date of the first session
01 Jul 2024

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Dana Castañeda (Female)
Date of birth: 08 Feb 1968
Political party
Realizing Goals (RM)
Date of election
01 Jul 2024

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No