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Panama to elect new president amid legal uncertainty and economic challenges
Panama, a country at the crossroads of international trade and migration, is set to elect a new president on Sunday after a campaign season marked by legal uncertainty. The nation of 4.4 million people is facing high inflation, a stagnating economy, and water access issues, with droughts exacerbating the situation. The leading candidates include José Raúl Mulino, who has pledged to tackle high unemployment and has controversially vowed to shut down the Darién Gap, a treacherous stretch of jungle that has become a main highway for migrants making their way to the US. Corruption is also a top concern for Panamanian voters, with former President Ricardo Martinelli disqualified from running due to a past corruption conviction. The election is further complicated by the lack of a presidential runoff and no minimum threshold to win, meaning the eventual victor could succeed with far less than majority support from the electorate.
