Polls & Research
Archive Search
Martinelli Keeps Gaining in Panama
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Ricardo Martinelli remains ahead in Panama’s presidential race, according to a poll by Dichter & Neira released by TVN Noticias. 44.3 per cent of respondents would support the candidate of the opposition Democratic Change (CD) in this year’s ballot, up three points since November.
Balbina Herrera of the governing Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) is second with 31.3 per cent, followed by Juan Carlos Varela of the Panameñista Party (PPA) with 14.1 per cent, and former president Guillermo Endara of the Moral Vanguard of the Homeland (VMP) with 2.5 per cent.
PRD member Martín Torrijos—the son of Omar Torrijos, an army general who ruled Panama from 1968 to 1981—won the May 2004 presidential election with 47.44 per cent of the vote. His tenure included an ambitious plan to expand the Panama Canal with an investment of $5.25 billion U.S. In October 2006, the proposal was ratified in a nationwide referendum.
Martinelli, the owner of a major supermarket chain, portrays himself as a political outsider. Herrera served as housing minister in the current government.
On Jan. 9, Varela discussed his campaign, saying, "I do not intend to waste millions in advertising to attack my political adversaries with lies. We should all think about what’s best for the country."
The presidential election in Panama is scheduled for May 3.
Polling Data
Who would you vote for in the next presidential election?
|
Jan. 2009 |
Nov. 2008 |
Oct. 2008 |
|
|
Ricardo Martinelli (CD) |
44.3% |
41.3% |
28.0% |
|
Balbina Herrera (PRD) |
31.3% |
31.4% |
34.3% |
|
Juan Carlos Varela (PPA) |
14.1% |
16.8% |
16.0% |
|
Guillermo Endara (VMP) |
2.5% |
3.0% |
1.5% |
|
None of these / Not sure |
7.8% |
6.8% |
20.2% |
Source: Dichter & Neira / TVN Noticias
Methodology: Interviews with 1,243 Panamanian adults, conducted from Jan. 2 to Jan. 4, 2009. Margin of error is 2.9 per cent.