US embassy cable - 04PANAMA1014

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PANAMA RESULTS: MARTIN TORRIJOS IS PRESIDENT

Identifier: 04PANAMA1014
Wikileaks: View 04PANAMA1014 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Panama
Created: 2004-05-03 02:10:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags: PGOV PM POL CHIEF
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.


 
UNCLAS PANAMA 001014 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
 
DEPT. FOR WHA/CEN/BRIGHAM 
NSC FOR TOM SHANNON 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PM, POL CHIEF 
SUBJECT: PANAMA RESULTS: MARTIN TORRIJOS IS PRESIDENT 
 
 
(SBU) In a smashing victory that validated the opinion polls 
and probably will give him a popular mandate, Martin Torrijos 
swept to victory in Panama's May 2 national elections.  With 
more than 45% of precincts reporting at 9:00 p.m., Democratic 
Revolutionary Party (PRD) standard bearer Torrijos had 47-48% 
of the vote, followed by Solidarity Party candidate former 
president Guillermo Endara with 30-31%, and 
Arnulfista-MOLIRENA-National Liberal candidate Jose Miguel 
Aleman with 17-18%.  Democratic Action Party candidate 
Ricardo Martinelli was last with 4-5%.  Panama's Electoral 
Tribunal president called Torrijos at 7:40 p.m. local time to 
tell him that he was the unofficial winner.  Aleman and 
Endara both conceded defeat and both said that Torrijos had 
won fairly, adding that they would give him their full 
support.  There were isolated allegations of fraud and vote 
buying in several legislative races, although it may take 
several days for the charges to be investigated.  OAS 
observer mission chief Moises Benamor told PolOff that he had 
congratulated the Electoral Tribunal and added that Panama 
did an excellent job compared with other electoral processes 
in the region.  All newly elected officials will take office 
on September 1, 2004.  Embassy will report comprehensive 
election results on May 3 by septel. 
 
 
WATT 

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