(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Three politicians split the support of two-thirds of Panamanians before next year’s presidential election, according to a poll by Dichter & Neira released by TVN Noticias and Panamá América. 23.1 per cent of respondents would vote for housing minister Balbina Herrera of the ruling Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD).

Juan Carlos Varela of the Panameñista Party (PPA) is a close second with 22.5 per cent, followed by Ricardo Martinelli of the opposition Democratic Change (CD) with 22.4 per cent, and PRD member Juan Carlos Navarro with 10.9 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 Jul. 10, Varela defeated Alberto Vallarino in the PPA’s internal primary, with 55 per cent of the vote. The PRD will hold a primary ballot to select the party’s official candidate on Sept. 7.

Earlier this month, Herrera suggested that Martinelli was "a populist." Martinelli’s camp replied to the PRD member with a statement, which read: "It is understandable that Herrera attacks Martinelli, because she is part of the political establishment, and Ricardo Martinelli is not. The system makes her defend fat politicians that keep people thin."

The next presidential election in Panama is scheduled for May 3, 2009.

Polling Data

Who would you vote for in the next presidential election?

Source: Dichter & Neira / TVN Noticias / Panamá América
Methodology: Interviews with 1,200 Panamanian adults, conducted from Jul. 11 to Jul. 13, 2008. Margin of error is 2.9 per cent.

Archive Search

Over 19,600 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.