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

1 1 (May 26, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdapz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: FF.ri E.$~ & p\w -- , gmmp go mppm qq\ , q I as 11LIANJILiN, Updated May 26, 2020 Panama: An Overview Panama's central location in the Americas (linking North and South America), large financial sector, use of the U.S. dollar as currency, and 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 1. Map of Panama .............................................................. ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................. ............................................................................................... ..................................................................... .................................................................... ......................... ............................................. .............. .......... . . . . . . . . ......... . . ... .................................... ................................................ ........................................................................ .............................................................................. ......................................................................................... ......................................................................................... ........................................................................................ ........................................................................................ ...................................................................................... ...................................................................................... .................................................................................... .................................................................................... .................................................................................... .................................................................................... .................................... ..................................... ................................. . ................................... .. . . ........................................... .................................. ................................... ... . ............................... . .............................. .................................... ........... ... ............ FIX, .................... . . W .. ...................................... .................... ............................... ................... C . . . ................................ ............... ......................... ......... .................. .. ..................... ........ ................... ......... ................... .................. ...................... .. .. ......... .................. ...................... ... .................. ........................ .......... ......... ........................ ......... nama * ::::::::::::........... .... . ...... ......................... ......... ......................... ........ ........................ ......................... ......................... ......................... .. .... P4 N A NP, ......................... .. . ........ ...... .............................. ................................ ................................. ... ..................... ............................................... .................... ................................................ ................... ................................................ ................... ................................................. .................. ................................................. .................. .............................................. .... .. ................. ............................................. ..... - ................... ............................................. ...... . .................... ............................................ I .... . .................... ............................................. ........ ..................... ............... ............... ........ ....................... ............... ................ ........ ........................ .............. - ....... ......................... ...................... ......................... ............. ........................ ........................... ...................................................... ....................................................... ........ ....................................................... ........................................................ ........................................................ .......................................................... .......................................................... ........................................................... ........................................................... .......................... . .......................... ........................................................... .......................................................... ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................. ............................ ............................. ................. ............ ............. ............................. .............. .... .................................... ......................................................... Source: CRS. Like other countries worldwide, Panama is contending with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The government's strong response, with school and workplace closures, has been credited for curbing the spread of the disease. As of May 22, 2020, the country had 291 reported COVID-19 deaths. 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. 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 pledged to reduce inequality and poverty, make health care more accessible, and reform the constitution. 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 more than 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). Cortizo succeeded Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019) of the center-right Panamenista Party. Varela served as vice president during the Ricardo Martinelli administration (2009-2014) 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. Martinelli was extradited from the United States to Panama in June 2018. In August 2019, he was acquitted on charges of ordering the illegal wiretapping of his opponents. President Cortizo's plans for constitutional reforms have slowed. In July 2019, Cortizo submitted to the National Assembly a package of reforms prepared by a consultative body consisting of business, labor, and civil society groups. The reforms aimed to strengthen the judiciary, improve public sector transparency and accountability, and strengthen the separation of powers. The National Assembly amended the reforms in October 2019, watering down anti-corruption measures and banning marriage equality, among other controversial changes. Protests ensued, and in December 2019, Cortizo pulled the reform package and announced that his government would start the process over again and develop a new national dialogue process to advance the constitutional reforms. Panama at a Glance Population: 4.2 million (2019, IMF est.). Area: 29,120 square miles, slightly smaller than South Carolina. GDP: $68.5 billion (2019, current prices, IMF est.). Real GDP Growth: constant prices, 3.7% (2018, IMF); 3% (2019, I MF est.); -2.1 % (2020, I MF fo recast) Per Capita GDP: $16,245 (2019, current prices, IMF). Key Trading Partners: United States (25%), China (10%), Mexico (5%), Costa Rica (4%), and Spain (4%) (2Q19, total trade, Panama National Institute of Statistics). Panama's services-based economy had 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 airports, 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 (IMF), Panama's economic growth averaged almost 6.9% from 2010 to 2017. Economic growth slowed to 3.7% in 2018 and 3% in 2019 but was among the highest in the region. Due to COVID-19, the IMF forecasts a contraction of 2.1% in 2020; other observers project a deeper recession. Panama's strong economic growth and targeted social programs contributed to poverty reduction in recent years.

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