Politics of Panama
Encyclopedia
Politics of Panama takes place in a framework of a presidential
representative democratic
republic
, whereby the President of Panama is both head of state
and head of government
, and of a multi-party system
. Executive power
is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly
. The Judiciary
is independent of the executive and the legislature.
The branches are according to Panama's Political Constitution of 1972
, reformed by the Actos Reformatorios of 1978, and by the Acto Constitucional in 1983. , united in cooperation and limited through the classic system of checks and balances. Three independent organizations with clearly defined responsibilities are found in the Political Constitution. Thus, the Comptroller General of the Republic has the responsibility to manage public funds. There also exists the Electoral Tribunal, which has the responsibility to guarantee liberty, transparency, and the efficacy of the popular vote; and, finally, the Ministry of the Public exists to oversee interests of State and of the municipalities.
|Ricardo Martinelli
|Democratic Change
|1 July 2009
|-
|Vice President
|Juan Carlos Varela
|Panameñista Party
|1 July 2009
|}
The Executive Branch includes a president plus one vice president. The president and the vice-president are elected on a single ballot for one non-renewable five-year term by direct popular vote.
National Assembly
(Asamblea Nacional), composed of 71 members elected to five-year terms from single-seat and multi-seat constituencies.
(PRD) - the (deceased) father of the previous president, Martín Torrijos
- and Arnulfo Arias
(Panameñista/Arnulfista) - late husband of the Ex president, Mireya Moscoso -. Even though these leaders died years ago, their "aura" is always revived by its followers, and they are present in every election.
Panamanian politics have been historically very corrupt. Lately, the Panamanian society and press have gotten tired of this and are auditing and fighting for improvements. A sign of this is the lack of young vote in the 22/10/06 Referendum, showing a lack of confidence in Panama Politics ways and Politicians.
Presidential system
A presidential system is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and which cannot, in normal circumstances, dismiss it....
representative democratic
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
, whereby the President of Panama is both head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
and head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
, and of a multi-party system
Multi-party system
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition, e.g.The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the United Kingdom formed in 2010. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally...
. Executive power
Executive Power
Executive Power is Vince Flynn's fifth novel, and the fourth to feature Mitch Rapp, an American agent that works for the CIA as an operative for a covert counter terrorism unit called the "Orion Team."-Plot summary:...
is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly
National Assembly of Panama
The National Assembly , formerly the Legislative Assembly , is the legislative branch of the government of the Republic of Panama.It is a unicameral legislature, currently made up of 71 members, who serve five-year terms...
. The Judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
is independent of the executive and the legislature.
The branches are according to Panama's Political Constitution of 1972
Constitution of Panama
Panama is governed under the Constitution of Panama of 1972 as amended in 1978, 1983, 1993, 1994, and 2004. This is Panama's fourth constitution, previous constitutions having been adopted in 1904, 1941, and 1946...
, reformed by the Actos Reformatorios of 1978, and by the Acto Constitucional in 1983. , united in cooperation and limited through the classic system of checks and balances. Three independent organizations with clearly defined responsibilities are found in the Political Constitution. Thus, the Comptroller General of the Republic has the responsibility to manage public funds. There also exists the Electoral Tribunal, which has the responsibility to guarantee liberty, transparency, and the efficacy of the popular vote; and, finally, the Ministry of the Public exists to oversee interests of State and of the municipalities.
Executive branch
|President|Ricardo Martinelli
Ricardo Martinelli
Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal is a Panamanian politician and businessman who was elected the 49th President of Panama in 2009. He is a Panamanian of Italian descent from his father's side.- Early life :...
|Democratic Change
|1 July 2009
|-
|Vice President
Vice President of Panama
Vice President of Panama is the second highest political position in Panama. Position of only one Vice President will be filled since 2009. Previously, there were positions of First Vice President and Second Vice President, also known as first designate to presidency and second designate...
|Juan Carlos Varela
Juan Carlos Varela
Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez is a Panamanian politician who has been Vice President of Panama since 2009. Along with President Ricardo Martinelli, he was elected on May 3, 2009 and sworn in on July 1, 2009. He also serves as the Minister of Foreign Relations...
|Panameñista Party
Panameñista Party
- Founding and early history :The party is the oldest in Panama. It was founded in 1932 by Arnulfo Arias Madrid, a prominent medical , as the National Revolutionary Party. Its membership largely came from Patriotic Communal Action, a nationalist organization that opposed the large amount of...
|1 July 2009
|}
The Executive Branch includes a president plus one vice president. The president and the vice-president are elected on a single ballot for one non-renewable five-year term by direct popular vote.
State Ministers
- Minister of Presidency: Demetrio Papadimitriu
- Minister of Public Security: José Raúl Mulino
- Minister of Interior: Roxana Méndez
- Minister of Foreign Relations: Juan Carlos Varela
- Minister of Public Works: Federico José Suárez
- Minister of Health: Franklin Vergara
- Minister of Work and Labor Development: Alma Lorena Cortés Aguilar
- Minister of Commerce and Industries : Roberto Henríquez
- Minister of Housing: Carlos Alberto Duboy Sierra
- Minister of Agriculture: Emilio Kieswetter
- Minister of Economy and Finance: Alberto Vallarino Clement
- Minister of Social Development: Guillermo Antonio Ferrufino Benítez
- Minister of Education: Lucinda Molinar
- Minister of Panama Canal Affairs:Rómulo Roux
- Minister of Tourism: Salomón Shamah Zuchin
- Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises: Giselle Burillo
Legislative branch
The legislative branch consists of a unicameralUnicameralism
In government, unicameralism is the practice of having one legislative or parliamentary chamber. Thus, a unicameral parliament or unicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of one chamber or house...
National Assembly
National Assembly of Panama
The National Assembly , formerly the Legislative Assembly , is the legislative branch of the government of the Republic of Panama.It is a unicameral legislature, currently made up of 71 members, who serve five-year terms...
(Asamblea Nacional), composed of 71 members elected to five-year terms from single-seat and multi-seat constituencies.
Political parties and elections
Judicial branch
The Judicial Organ administers justice in a permanent, free, and expeditious manner. It comprises the Supreme Court of Justice, the Tribunals, and the judges established by law, according to the Political Constitution of the Republic of Panama (title VII, Chapter 1).Electoral branch
An autonomous Electoral Tribunal supervises voter registration, the election process, and the activities of political parties. Everyone over the age of 18 is required to vote, although those who fail to do so are not penalized.Some background
In Panamanian history, the dominant parties have been the PRD and the Panameñista (former Arnulfista Party). These parties were founded by very charismatic and strong political enemies, Omar TorrijosOmar Torrijos
Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera was the Commander of the Panamanian and National Guard and the de facto leader of Panama from 1968 to 1981...
(PRD) - the (deceased) father of the previous president, Martín Torrijos
Martín Torrijos
Martín Erasto Torrijos Espino is a Panamanian politician and the former President of the Republic of Panama.Torrijos was elected President on May 2, 2004...
- and Arnulfo Arias
Arnulfo Arias
Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid was president of Panama on three occasions: 1940–41, 1949–51, and for two weeks in October 1968.- Origins :...
(Panameñista/Arnulfista) - late husband of the Ex president, Mireya Moscoso -. Even though these leaders died years ago, their "aura" is always revived by its followers, and they are present in every election.
Panamanian politics have been historically very corrupt. Lately, the Panamanian society and press have gotten tired of this and are auditing and fighting for improvements. A sign of this is the lack of young vote in the 22/10/06 Referendum, showing a lack of confidence in Panama Politics ways and Politicians.
Further Reading
- Harding, Robert C. (2001). Military Foundations of Panamanian Politics. Transaction Publishers. ISBN-13: 978-0765800756.
- Harding, Robert C. (2006). The History of Panama. Greenwood Publishing. ISBN-13: 978-0313333224.