About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 1 (October 24, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govbbne0001 and id is 1 raw text is: $ Cong essional Research Service In q fl leg I Dv debat@ s nce 1914 Updated October 24, 2019 Panama: An Overview Panama's central location in the Americas (linking North and South America) and its transportation infrastructure- especially the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans-make the country a global trade hub and a strategic partner for the United States. Figure I. Map of Panama Source: CRS. Political and Economic Environment Current President Laurentino Nito Cortizo of the center- left Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) won a narrow victory in Panama's May 2019 elections, receiving 33% of the vote in a seven-candidate contest; he was inaugurated to a five-year term on July 1, 2019. Cortizo defeated R6mulo Roux of the center-right Democratic Change party of former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), who received 31 % of the vote, and independent candidate Ricardo Lombana, who received almost 19% of the vote running on an anti-corruption platform. Cortizo's PRD also won 35 seats in Panama's 71-seat National Assembly, the most for a single party; it is working in coalition with the National Republican Liberal Movement (Molirena), which has five seats in the Assembly, providing the government with majority support. During the campaign, Cortizo made inequality and poverty his main campaign issues, including making health care more accessible. He also pledged to push for constitutional reform Cortizo heads Panama's seventh civilian government since the December 1989 U.S. military intervention that ousted the military regime of General Manuel Antonio Noriega. The endurance of elected civilian democracy in Panama for almost 30 years is a significant departure from the country's history of military rule, including the populist rule of General Omar Torrijos (1968-1981) and the increasingly repressive rule of Noriega (1983-1989). Noriega died in May 2017; after the U.S. intervention, he served prison time on drug charges in the United States and France and then returned to Panama in 2011 to serve time related to charges for political killings. Cortizo succeeded Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019) of the center-right Panameiista Party, who could not run because Panama's constitution does not permit consecutive reelection. Varela served as vice president during the Martinelli administration and served as foreign minister for two years until Martinelli fired him, related to Varela's allegations of governmental corruption. Once in office, the Varela administration pursued numerous corruption cases against Martinelli government officials, including Martinelli himself, who was investigated over irregularities in a public welfare program and illegal wiretapping and pardons. Pursuant to an extradition request from Panama, U.S. marshals arrested Martinelli in Florida in June 2017; he was extradited to Panama in June 2018. In August 2019, he was acquitted on charges of ordering the illegal wiretapping of his opponents. Panama at a Glance Population: 4.159 million (2018, ME est.). Area: 29,120 square miles, slightly smaller than South Carolina. GDP: $65 billion (20 18, current prices, IMF est.). Real GDP Growth: 5.3% (2017, IMF); 3.7% (2Q18, IMF est.); 4.3% (2019, IMF forecast). Per Capita GDP: $15,643 (20 18, current prices, IMF). U.S. Trade: U.S. imports, $462 million (20 18); U.S. exports $6.88 billion (2018) (U.S. Depazrtment of Commerce). In July 2019, President Cortizo submitted to the National Assembly a package of constitutional reforms prepared by a consultative body consisting of business, labor, and civil society groups. The reforms aim to strengthen the judiciary, improve public sector transparency and accountability, and strengthen the separation of powers. The National Assembly finished debating and amending the reforms on October 23, 2019; the reforms now need to be approved again by the National Assembly in its next legislative session in 2020 and then approved by public referendum. Panama's services-based economy has been booming since 2010, in large part because of the Panama Canal expansion and other large infrastructure projects, such as a metro system for Panama City; a third bridge over the canal (and a fourth one planned); and expansion of the country's airport, roads, and highways. The Panama Canal expansion was completed in 2016 and included adding a new set of locks and channel, which doubled the canal's capacity and allowed it to accommodate giant container cargo ships. According to the International Monetary Fund, Panama's economic growth averaged almost 6.9% from 2010 to 2017. Economic growth slowed to 3.7% in 2018, and the forecast for 2019 is 4.3% growth (lower than the 6% forecast earlier in the year but still among the highest in the hemisphere). Strong economic growth and targeted social programs have ttps:i/crs reports.cong ess go

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most