The Republic of Panama held a general election on Sunday, 2 May 2004, electing both a new President of the Republic and a new Legislative Assembly.

Presidential election

With nearly all the votes counted, Martín Torrijos of the Democratic Revolutionary Party led with 47% of the vote, followed by former President Guillermo Endara of the Solidarity Party, with 30%. Endara formally conceded the election at around 21:00 local time.

Torrijos will replace outgoing president Mireya Moscoso for a five-year term, beginning on 1 September 2004. Along with Torrijos, voters also elected his two vice-presidents, who run on party tickets in conjunction with the presidential candidates.

Torrijos is the son of Omar Torrijos Herrera, who served as Panama's de facto president from 1968 to 1978. Although Omar Torrijos was a radical nationalist, Martín Torrijos is described as a centrist who favors a market economy and a free-trade agreement with the United States.

Legislative and local elections

In addition to its president and vice presidents, Panama elected a new Legislative Assembly (78 members), 20 deputies to represent the country at the Central American Parliament, and a string of mayors and other municipal officers.

See also

• Politics of Panama
• List of political parties in Panama
• List of Presidents of Panama
• Panamanian election, 1999

External links

• Official Results (Panamanian Electoral Tribunal)
• Panama elects ex-dictator's son (BBC)
• First election since Canal handover (The Guardian)
• Panama election is all in the family (Reuters)