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Businessman Martinelli Leads All in Panama
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A conservative businessman could become the next president of Panama, according to a poll by Unimer published in La Prensa. 36.2 per cent of respondents would vote for Ricardo Martinelli of the Democratic Change (CD) party in next year’s election, up 3.8 points since October.
Balbina Herrera of the governing Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) is second with 30.8 per cent, followed by Juan Carlos Varela of the Panameñista Party (PPA) with 15.1 per cent, and former president Guillermo Endara of the Moral Vanguard of the Homeland (VMP) with 3.5 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. Torrijos’ tenure has been marked by his support for 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.
On Nov. 24, CD members accepted an offer by the Patriotic Union Party (PUP)—also in opposition—to support Martinelli’s bid. Martinelli, the owner of a major chain of supermarkets, has vowed to help young entrepreneurs and increase education spending.
Last month, PRD member and Panama City mayor Juan Carlos Navarro called for a tough-hand approach to rising crime in the country. Martinelli endorsed the proposal, saying, "It seems like the only leading figure of the PRD who is aware that we have a problem with insecurity in Panama is mayor Navarro. President Torrijos and candidate Herrera place little importance in such a significant topic."
The next presidential election in Panama is scheduled for May 3, 2009.
Polling Data
Who would you vote for in the next presidential election?
|
|
Nov. 2008 |
Oct. 2008 |
|
Ricardo Martinelli (CD) |
36.2% |
32.4% |
|
Balbina Herrera (PRD) |
30.8% |
31.6% |
|
Juan Carlos Varela (PPA) |
15.1% |
17.7% |
|
Guillermo Endara (VMP) |
3.5% |
4.4% |
|
Other |
0.7% |
0.8% |
|
None / Blank ballot |
13.7% |
13.1% |
Source: Unimer / La Prensa
Methodology: Interviews with 1,210 Panamanian adults, conducted from Nov. 14 to Nov. 19, 2008. Margin of error is 2.9 per cent.