By Luis De Jesus
06 May 2024, 16:45 PM EDT
The Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, extended his congratulations to José Raúl Mulino on Monday for his victory in the Panamanian presidential elections and expressed his interest in working to strengthen economic cooperation and redouble joint efforts against irregular migration to through the Darien jungle.
In an official statement, Blinken praised Mulino’s victory and expressed his optimism for the continuation of the strategic partnership between the United States and Panama, with the purpose of promoting the “shared objectives” of both nations regarding democratic governance and prosperity. economic, reported the Efe news agency.
“The United States will continue to collaborate with Panama in the pursuit of our common objectives of inclusive and sustainable economic growth, strengthening citizen security and cooperation to stop irregular migration through the Darien,” said the top US diplomat.
The relationship between the government of Joe Biden and José Raúl Mulino will raise expectations, especially given Washington’s complicated history with disqualified former president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), who was sanctioned in January 2023 for alleged involvement in “large-scale corruption.” ”.
With more than 90% of the votes counted, Mulino secured 34.4% of the votes, beating the anti-establishment candidate Ricardo Lombana, of the Other Path Movement, who obtained 25%. He was followed by former president Martín Torrijos (2004-2009), of the Popular Party, with 16%; and Rómulo Roux, from Cambio Democrático, with 11.2%.
Mulino, 64, who was leading the polls prior to the elections, was designated as the presidential candidate of the Save Panama alliance, made up of the Realizing Goals (RM) and Alianza parties, replacing Martinelli, who was disqualified due to a conviction for more than 10 years in prison for money laundering and is currently seeking asylum in the Nicaraguan Embassy.
After election day, Mulino declared his willingness to avoid any confrontation and announced his intention to seek political consensus to promote “a pro-private business government,” without neglecting the needs of the most disadvantaged.
“Mission accomplished!”
“Mission accomplished, damn; Mission accomplished, Ricardo (Martinelli)! “said the president-elect before his followers after his victory on Sunday. “I am not here because someone put me there, nor because of someone’s finger, the popular vote put me here,” Mulino added.
“A hug, Ricardo, to where you are. As I said, political persecution is over in this country, the country is fed up with political fights that have not led us to anything good, I do not consider myself an enemy of anyone, and I hope that no one considers me their enemy,” he stressed.
Keep reading:
• José Raúl Mulino wins the Panama elections with promises to close the Darién jungle and recover economic prosperity
• Closing the Darién jungle, the anti-immigration discourse sneaks into the elections in Panama
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