Panama’s former Minister and lawyer, José Raúl Mulino, has been unexpectedly elected as the country’s new president. Just two months ago, Mulino was running as the vice-presidential candidate for Ricardo Martinelli, but after Martinelli was disqualified, he was catapulted into power. Despite not being the first choice for vice president, Mulino emerged as the replacement for Martinelli and was officially endorsed by the Supreme Court of Justice last Friday.
Mulino campaigned on promises to bring back the economic boom of a decade ago, drawing on nostalgia for the infrastructure investments and growth experienced during Martinelli’s presidency. He emphasized his commitment to tackling unemployment and poverty and vowed to revive Panama’s economy once again.
A seasoned politician with a long history in public service, Mulino served as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and later as Chancellor in the Government of Guillermo Endara. However, his tenure as Minister of Security under Martinelli was marred by criticism and allegations of abuse of authority. Despite controversy surrounding his past actions, Mulino has proposed ambitious projects for his presidency, such as extending the passenger train line to his native province of Chiriquí and calling for a new Constituent Assembly for Panama. His close association with Martinelli and his commitment to reviving the country’s economy have positioned him as a formidable leader in the eyes of many Panamanians.
Despite not being an easy task it is important that we have someone who can lead our country towards prosperity once again. Mulino has shown that he is capable of delivering on his promises and making bold decisions even when faced with criticism. We wish him all the best in his new role as President of Panama.
