This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8031425.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Change expected as Panama votes | Change expected as Panama votes |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Panamanians are voting in presidential elections, with the ruling party facing a struggle to keep power. | |
| Colourful rightist businessman Ricardo Martinelli, standing for the Democratic Change party, is favourite to win. | Colourful rightist businessman Ricardo Martinelli, standing for the Democratic Change party, is favourite to win. |
| Correspondents say he has tapped into the concerns of the poor by promising to get tough on crime and corruption. | Correspondents say he has tapped into the concerns of the poor by promising to get tough on crime and corruption. |
| He has a double-digit lead in opinion polls over his centre-left rival Balbina Herrera, of the ruling Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD). | He has a double-digit lead in opinion polls over his centre-left rival Balbina Herrera, of the ruling Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD). |
| Presidents in Panama are elected for a single, five-year term, and the incumbent, Martin Torrijos, is standing down. | Presidents in Panama are elected for a single, five-year term, and the incumbent, Martin Torrijos, is standing down. |
| The new president will face a series of economic challenges as the global economic downturn hits the crucial trade link of the Panama Canal. | The new president will face a series of economic challenges as the global economic downturn hits the crucial trade link of the Panama Canal. |
| Surprise lead | Surprise lead |
| Voting begins at 0700 local time (1200 GMT). | Voting begins at 0700 local time (1200 GMT). |
| Mr Martinelli has surprised many observers with his poll lead | Mr Martinelli has surprised many observers with his poll lead |
| Mr Martinelli stood for president in 2004 and only gained around 5% of the vote. | Mr Martinelli stood for president in 2004 and only gained around 5% of the vote. |
| But the BBC's Will Grant, reporting from the region, says this time around he seems to have tapped into the concerns of poor Panamanians by promising to clamp down on political corruption and get tough on violent crime. | But the BBC's Will Grant, reporting from the region, says this time around he seems to have tapped into the concerns of poor Panamanians by promising to clamp down on political corruption and get tough on violent crime. |
| He has been critical of Mr Torrijos and Ms Herrera, whom he accuses of failing to tackle poverty while lining their pockets in the process. | He has been critical of Mr Torrijos and Ms Herrera, whom he accuses of failing to tackle poverty while lining their pockets in the process. |
| But for many analysts, Mr Martinelli's lead in the opinion polls has come as something of a surprise, our correspondent says. | But for many analysts, Mr Martinelli's lead in the opinion polls has come as something of a surprise, our correspondent says. |
| In 2006 President Torrijos won a referendum on his proposal to widen the Panama canal, and economic growth during his administration has averaged around 8.5%. | In 2006 President Torrijos won a referendum on his proposal to widen the Panama canal, and economic growth during his administration has averaged around 8.5%. |
| But Mr Martinelli has spent heavily on marketing, an estimated $35m, and with his wife he has crossed the country giving grants and other financial incentives to students. | But Mr Martinelli has spent heavily on marketing, an estimated $35m, and with his wife he has crossed the country giving grants and other financial incentives to students. |
| If he goes on to win at the polls, he will face a complicated task in government, our correspondent says. | If he goes on to win at the polls, he will face a complicated task in government, our correspondent says. |
| Panama receives a little under one-third of its tax revenues from the canal, but amid the global economic crisis traffic through the canal has slowed significantly. | Panama receives a little under one-third of its tax revenues from the canal, but amid the global economic crisis traffic through the canal has slowed significantly. |