Panama

The political situation in Panama is generally stable, with a strong commitment to democracy and the rule of law. The country has a multi-party system, and elections are regularly held and considered to be free and fair. However, corruption and impunity remain serious challenges, and there are concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions.

The current president, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, was elected in 2019 with a pledge to crack down on corruption and improve the economy. However, his administration has been criticized for its slow progress on these issues. In addition, the country has been facing a number of economic challenges, including high inflation and unemployment.

Despite these challenges, Panama remains a relatively prosperous and democratic country. The government is working to address the issues of corruption and impunity, and there is a vibrant civil society that is active in holding the government accountable.

Here are some specific developments in the political situation in Panama:

- In July 2022, two former presidents of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli and Juan Carlos Varela, were indicted on corruption charges related to the Odebrecht bribery scandal.
- In June 2022, the Panamanian Electoral Tribunal (TE) recognized one new political party.
- In May 2022, the Panamanian government announced a new anti-corruption plan.
- In March 2022, the Panamanian Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a former minister for corruption.

Overall, the political situation in Panama is stable, but there are some challenges that need to be addressed, such as corruption and impunity. The government is working on these issues, and there is a vibrant civil society that is active in holding the government accountable.

In this context, over the past five years, International IDEA's presence has contributed to strengthening the competences of the Electoral Tribunal in guaranteeing the rights of citizenship and a commitment to electoral integrity.