Panama's Electoral Commission declared Jose Raul Mulino the winner with more than 34% of the vote.

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Former President Ricardo Martinelli's dolphin and confidante, Jose Raul Mulino, who was disqualified after being accused of money laundering, won Sunday's presidential election in Panama with nearly 95% of the initial vote. Electoral power and rivals of his victory.

Mulino, Martinelli's 64-year-old former defense minister, who replaced the popular ex-president in the polls with targets and allies, won 34.42% of the vote, while Ricardo Lombana of the Otro Camino movement came second in the initial count. with 24.97% of the no.

From the electoral court, presidential magistrate Alfredo Junca called Mulino via video call and declared him the “unofficial winner” based on the progress of the count, to which Mulino pledged to give his best as governor.

“I appreciate the invitation and I am happy with the results that have been revealed, which is the majority will of the people,” Mulino said, recalling the hurdles the nomination faced.

Election Day stood out for historic voter participation, with more than 77.49% of Panamanians.

Mulino and Lombana had former president Martín Torrijos with 16.01% and Romulo Roux of Campio Democrático with 11.22% in the initial count.

Before concluding the study, the latter two acknowledged their defeat in public statements and congratulated Mulino. “This May 5, the people of Panama chose a different plan from the one we presented. I want to congratulate Jose Raul Mulino, who has been elected President of the Republic,” Roux said. Not long ago, Torrijos recognized the success of Martinelli's Dolphin.

Finally, Lombana also conceded defeat, still smiling, publicly hinting that his movement was the main opposition force.

Mulino proclaimed to his followers after the victory. “Here we are because we came with the majority vote of the people of Panama, and it hurts whoever it hurts,” he defended, still remembering that he did not imagine this outcome when he offered to run for vice president with Martinelli.

To his initial partner, he had words of support. “He hugs Ricardo where he is. As I said, political persecution is over in this country,” he chanted, while his supporters chanted “Freedom, Freedom”.

Mulino received congratulations via message from the US government and the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Panama's next president will welcome a country with pressing challenges, an economy that has slowed this year after mass protests late last year and the closure of a copper mine following a drought that limited shipping through the Panama Canal.

In addition, the Darien will have to deal with a growing irregular migration through the forest, which passed half a million people on their way to the United States last year.

Despite his 10-year prison sentence for money laundering and a political disqualification that prevented him from participating in the election campaign, Mulino was the leading candidate in the campaign, capitalizing on the support that a segment of the population still claims for the former president. .

During the campaign, he promised to boost the economy and put more money in Panamanians' pockets, in addition to stopping irregular migration through the Darien, which saw more than half a million people pass through last year. Mulino's critics fear a conflict with him and a resurgence of corruption in the country.

Modesta de Negrete, a 58-year-old evangelical pastor, said outside the site that the results were as expected. “We as Panamanians hope that Mulino will fulfill his promise. “We need economic activation, jobs.”

Martinelli's Dolphin, who voted just after 9:00 a.m. at the ATLAPA Convention Center shouting “Sit down, sit down, President Mulino,” was on the verge of dropping out of the race due to a lawsuit. His candidacy was sought to be declared unconstitutional and the Supreme Court ruled on Friday morning to disqualify Mulino from the presidential election.

After voting, candidate Martinelli went to the embassy. “Brother,” he said before hugging him at diplomatic headquarters. The government of Panama had previously protested the government of Nicaragua for allowing the former president to engage in political activities.

“We think Mulino can do a good job,” said Yanela Ríos, a 58-year-old housewife who voted early in Boca La Caja, a shantytown of concrete and tin-roofed houses nestled among luxury residential skyscrapers. In Panama City. “In fact, if he has a different mindset in helping the people and the person who put him in that position (Martinelli), it's good for the country.”

Carmen González, a 56-year-old housewife who voted for Lombana, said, “Problems with the economy, work and health have led us to a critical moment.” And he asked the next president to “keep every promise and make things better.”

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Journalist Alma Solis contributed to this report from Panama City. Janetsky reported from Mexico City.