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Change expected as Panama votes Right-winger wins Panama election
(about 2 hours later)
Panamanians are voting in presidential elections, with the ruling party facing a struggle to keep power. Rightist businessman Ricardo Martinelli has been declared the winner in Panama's presidential election.
Colourful rightist businessman Ricardo Martinelli, standing for the Democratic Change party, is favourite to win. With 43.68% of the votes counted, the National Electoral Board announced that Mr Martinelli, of the Democratic Change party, had won.
Correspondents say he has tapped into the concerns of the poor by promising to get tough on crime and corruption. Correspondents say he had 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 defeated 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, the PRD's 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. Five years ago, Martinelli only polled 5%
Surprise lead Mr Martinelli will face a series of economic challenges as the global economic downturn hits the crucial trade link of the Panama Canal.
Voting began at 0700 local time (1200 GMT). He had stood for president in 2004 and only gained around 5% of the vote.
Mr Martinelli has surprised many observers with his poll lead But the BBC's Will Grant, reporting from the region, says this time around he appeared more in touch with the concerns of poor Panamanians by promising to clamp down on political corruption and get tough on violent crime.
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.
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.
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 spent heavily on marketing, an estimated $35m, and with his wife he 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. He now faces 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.
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