25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?

Source: Artículo 180, Decreto 29 de 31 de mayo de 2022 (Boletín 5065). Article 180, Decree 29 of May 31, 2022 (Bulletin 5065)

(ES)
Artículo 180. Fuentes de financiamiento. Los partidos políticos pueden utilizar, para financiar la propaganda electoral y gastos de campaña, los financiamientos interinos siguientes:
1.Préstamos de entidades bancarias que operan en Panamá.
2. Préstamos de empresas que operan en Panamá y que, sin ser bancos, puedan, según su pacto social y su permiso de operación, otorgar financiamiento a entidades privadas como los partidos políticos.
3. Cartas de crédito para proveedores del exterior, expedidas por entidades bancarias que operan en Panamá.
4. Crédito de proveedores que operan en Panamá, cuya actividad guarde relación con las actividades que pretende realizar el partido político.

(EN)
Article 180. Sources of financing. Political parties may use, to finance electoral propaganda and campaign expenses, the following interim financing:
1. Loans from banking entities operating in Panama.
2. Loans from companies operating in Panama that, without being banks, may, according to their articles of incorporation and their operating permit, grant financing to private entities such as political parties.
3. Letters of credit for foreign suppliers, issued by banking entities operating in Panama.
4. Credit from suppliers operating in Panama, whose activity is related to the activities that the political party intends to carry out.

Available at: https://rinedtep.edu.pa/server/api/core/bitstreams/b7a78de2-9385-414f-81e1-1dda5b9ea1b9/content

The provided legal framework does not contain a specific prohibition on candidates taking out loans for their campaigns. The regulations explicitly mention and regulate loans for political parties (Decree 29, Art. 180), but are silent on the matter of individual candidates.