PANAMA CITY, Panama: Jose Raul Mulino, initially eyeing the vice presidency under former leader Ricardo Martinelli, emerged as Panama’s president-elect after Martinelli’s disqualification and legal troubles.
Mulino, 64, clinched victory in the single-round national election with over a third of the votes, leveraging his mentor’s popularity.
His candidacy faced legal challenges due to non-participation in primary votes and the absence of a running mate, resolved just two days before the election by the Supreme Court.
During Martinelli’s presidency, Mulino served as justice minister and public security minister, though he faced corruption allegations and claimed to be a “political prisoner.”
Replacing Martinelli as the Realizing Goals party candidate, Mulino ran under the slogan “Mulino is Martinelli,” with speculation that Martinelli would influence decisions from behind the scenes.
Mulino pledged to address migration issues, including closing the perilous Darien Gap route, and proposed infrastructure projects like a railroad and pension system reform.
His plans also include a pet hospital named after Martinelli’s dog, “Bruno,” reflecting his personal connection to the former leader.
Mulino, a maritime law expert, has a history of political activism, including opposition to dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega and a brief stint as foreign minister post-invasion.
Described as confrontational, Mulino’s leadership style has drawn criticism, but his electoral strategy relied on Martinelli’s enduring popularity among voters.
Panamanians attribute economic prosperity under Martinelli’s tenure to infrastructure development, a factor that bolstered Mulino’s electoral prospects.
President-elect Mulino, married to a pet store owner, finds solace on his farm, where he tends to animals amid his political responsibilities.
