

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09PANAMA357, PANAMA: MARTINELLI WINS BIG
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09PANAMA357.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09PANAMA357 | 2009-05-05 13:16 | 2011-04-11 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Panama |
VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHZP #0357/01 1251316
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 051316Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3350
INFO RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCNFB/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000357
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: MARTINELLI WINS BIG
Classified By: AMBASSADOR BARBARA J. STEPHENSON. REASONS: 1.4 (D).
-------
Summary
-------
¶1. (SBU) The opposition's Alliance for Change presidential
candidate Ricardo Martinelli defeated governing Revolutionary
Democratic Party (PRD) candidate by over twenty points and
more than 300,000 votes on May 3. Martinelli also appears to
have wrested gained control of the 71-seat National Assembly
from the PRD as his alliance is likely to win at least 37
seats. Martinelli called for all Panamanians to come
together to work for the change on which he camapign.
Herrera took responsibility for her loss and promised to lead
the opposition. Torrijos congratulated Martinelli on this
victory and announced they would meet on May 5 to begin the
transition. Several seasoned PRD veterans -- including Pedro
Miguel Gonzalez, who is under federal indictment in
connection with the 1992 murder of a U.S. serviceman -- lost
their National Assembly seats. Coming from behind, the
opposition's Bosco Vallarino defeated the PRD's Bobby
Velasquez to win the race for Mayor of Panama City, the
country's second most important elected office. Embassy
observers, as well as Organization of American States (OAS)
observers and domestic observation missions. Martinelli will
now face considerable challenge getting his administration up
and running.
----------------------
Big Win for Martinelli
----------------------
¶2. (SBU) Alliance for Change presidential candidate Ricardo
Martinelli defeated governing Revoltionary Democratic Party
(PRD) presidential candidate Balbina Herrera in a landslide
on May 3. As of 11:00 pm on May 3, Panama's Electoral
Tribunal (TE) reported that Martinelli had secured 60 percent
fo the vote, and Herrera got 37 percent. Sinc the 1989
restoration of democracy, Martinelli is not only the first
candidate to win by more than 50 percent of the vote but also
the candidate to win by the largest margin (23 points).
Herrera acknowledged her defeat in a short address at PRD
headquarters shortly after the TE magistrates called
Martinelli to inform him of his victory. Martinelli then
made remarks to his supporters. In a brief televised
statement, President Martin Torrijos congratulated Martinelli
on his victory and said that he would meet with Martinelli on
May 5 to begin the transition. Martinelli will be
inaugurated on July 1.
¶3. (SBU) According to Panama City television broadcaster
Telemetro on the morning of May 4, the unofficial results,
reflecting unofficial reporting from 92.41 percent of the
voting tables, were:
Candidate: Percent: Votes:
---------- -------- ------
Ricardo Martinelli 60.31 886,819
Balbina Herrera 37.34 549,002
Guillermo Endara 2.35 34,551
Blank ballots 1.17 17,268
Spoiled ballots 1.90 27,923
Telemetro reported that 68.61 percent of voters or a total of
1,515,623 voters cast their ballots. Panama City leading
daily La Prensa reported on May 4 that Martinelli's
Democratic Change (CD) brought in 54 percent of the
coalition's total votes while alliance partners the
Panamenista Party acounted for 30.5 percent, the Movement of
Liberal Republican Nationals (MOLIRENA) brought in 9.8
percent; and Patriotic Union (UP) delivered 5.5 percent of
the total. Post will report final official results SEPTEL.
--------------------------------------------- ------
Martinelli: Victory for "all the people of Panama"
--------------------------------------------- ------
¶4. (SBU) In a short victory speech to supporters on the
evening of May 3, Martinelli said that his victory was a
victory "of all the people of Panama." He called "on all
those who opposed us, who are also Panamanians" to join him
to "begin a new day, a day of change." Echoing calls made
during the closing weeks of his campaign, Martinelli said,
"We need to put our best minds, independents, the best PRD
members because they have very good people too, the best
members of this alliance, and all Panamanians" to the
challenge of changing Panama. Concluding his remarks, he
said, "We need all of you to make this change that Panama
demands and wants to come true."
¶5. (SBU) In impromptu remarks to the press on May 4,
Martinelli made news by giving his first indications
regarding cabinet and other high-level appointments:
-- Demetrio "Jimmy" Papadimitriu, his closest campaign
advisor, would serve as Minister of the Presidency;
-- Romulo de Roux would be Minister of Canal Affairs;
-- Giselle de Calcagno, who broke with the PRD to support
Martinelli, would remain at the helm of the Authority for
Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprises (AMPYME);
-- former FM in the Moscoso Administration Jaime Aleman would
be Panama's Ambassador to the U.S.; and
-- Gustavo Perez, Jr. would be named the Director of the
Panamanian National Police (PNP).
Additionally, he said he would offer morning television talk
show host Lucy Molinar the Ministry of Education. Regarding
the U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement, Martinelli simply
noted, "We need to speak with the U.S. Ambassador."
----------------------------
Balbina: "I am responsible"
----------------------------
¶6. (SBU) "The Panamanian people are sovereign, and I will
respect their decision," Herrera stated on the evening of
May 3 in making her concession speech that was marked
primarily by her expressions of gratitude for her supporters
and calls for the party to continue to fight for a better
Panama. Responding to questions after her concession,
Herrera said, "I am the only one responsible (for my
electoral loss), I am the leader, I am the candidate. I will
not blame anyone else. I am the candidate, and I assume
responsibility for this campaign." Indirectly answering
former President Ernesto "El Toro" Perez Balladares assertion
that the PRD's National Executive Committee (CEN), of which
Herrera is president, should resign, Herrera said, "No, we
will continue. This executive committee was elected for five
years, and we will respect that decision. Those who think
that there will be changes in the party's leadership are
mistaken."
-----------------------------
National Assembly Projections
-----------------------------
¶7. (SBU) Early unofficial projections broadcast by RPC radio
on May 4 indicated that the four-party Alliance for Change
would win control of the National Assembly, though only by a
slim margin. RPC reported that, the Alliance for Change
would win at least 37 seats with the Panamenistas winning 19
seats, CD 12, UP 4, and MOLIRENA 2. The same radio
broadcast, projected that the PRD would win 21 seats and its
alliance partner, the Popular Party (PP), 1 seat while former
President Endara's Moral Vanguard of the Nation (VMP) party
was projected to win 1 seat. Independents were projected to
win 2 seats. These projections only accounted for 62 of the
71 seats in the National Assembly, however, as 8 other seats
remained to be determined.
¶8. (SBU) Several PRD incumbents lost their seats, including
most notably Pedro Miguel Gonzalez who is under U.S. federal
indictment in connection with the 1992 murder of a U.S.
serviceman in Panama. Additionally, current PRD National
Assembly President Raul Rodriguez and Majority Leader Leandro
Avila also lost re-election as did former National Assembly
President Jerry Wilson. Torrijos Second VP Arosemena --
essentially the standard bearer for the PRD's minor alliance
partner, the Popular Party -- failed to win a seat.
-------------------
Major Mayoral Races
-------------------
¶9. (SBU) In the hotly contested Panama City Mayoral race,
opposition candidate Bosco Vallarino appears to have come
from behind to defeat PRD candidate Bobby Velasquez by a
narrow but comfortable margin. With 1,004 of 1,162 voting
tables reporting, CD/Panamenista/MOLIRENA candidate Bosco
Vallarino held a comfortable lead with 45.47 percent of the
vote and 139,957 votes ahead of PRD candidate Bobby Velasquez
by 17,868 votes. La Prensa, noting that he had conceded
defeated, reported on May 4 that Velasquez had won 40 percent
of the vote. Meanwhile, UP candidate Miguel Antonio Bernal
took 14 percent of the vote.
¶10. (SBU) PRD San Miguelito mayor Hector Carrasquilla,
according to a May 4 broadcast by Telemetro, held on to win
election in Panama's second largest municipality. With most
voting tables reporting, Carrasquilla was leading the vote
count by about 7,000 votes.
---------------------
The Transition Starts
---------------------
¶11. (SBU) Shortly after Martinelli's victory speech,
President Torrijos went on television and congratulated
Martinelli on his victory. He noted that he had spoken with
Martinelli and said that they would meet on May 5 to "begin
the transition." Martinelli acknowledged that he would meet
with Torrijos on May 5 and said he would be accompanied by
VP-elect Juan Carlos Varela and Papadimitriu.
-------
Comment
-------
¶12. (C) Exceeding the most optimistic predictions, Martinelli
has won an enormous victory -- "a very big tsunami," he told
international election observers. The scope of his victory
will be become apparent in the coming days as National
Assembly and local-level races are determined. Now,
Martinelli must turn his attention to a much harder task than
winning election: governing. It will be months before a
functioning Martinelli Administration is up and running. He
won with the support of a complex four-party alliance, he is
aided by only a small handful of young advisors that he truly
trusts, and yet will need to grapple with tough issues in the
immediate to near-term, including efforts to secure U.S.
ratification of the FTA and security matters in the Darien.
He willl need consolidate his base of support with the
alliance and possibly including reaching out to the PRD to
build the consensus necessary to tackle challenges.
STEPHENSON