MADRID- The European Union offered its recognition this Tuesday to the elected president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, highlighting the democratic nature of the recent elections and the notable citizen participation that characterized them.
In a statement, the European External Action Service expressed its firm commitment to democracy in Panama after the high participation in the elections that left “a clear result” that was recognized by all candidates.
“The EU congratulated the winning candidate on his victory and looked forward to working with the new President and his administration. Panama and the EU are like-minded partners who share a commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law,” the ministry stated.
Likewise, community diplomacy reiterated the intention to “promote bilateral cooperation and promote international relations based on multilateralism and international law.”
“Electoral victory”
José Raúl Mulino, former Minister of Security in the government of Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), achieved electoral victory with more than 34 percent of the votes, almost ten percentage points more than the second candidate.
Mulino will receive from President Laurentino Cortizo, of the majority Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD, social democrat), a country with a fiscal deficit of 7.4%, a public debt of 50,000 million and a collapsed social security system.
The now elected president of Panama must also face the migration crisis in the dangerous Darien jungle, which he promised to “close” to prevent migrants, mostly Venezuelans, from passing through there on their way to the United States.
Source: EUROPA PRESS/ FOR
