Unexpected President: José Raúl Mulino and the Legacy of Corruption in Panama

José Raúl Mulino, a 64-year-old from Chiriquí, has been elected as the unexpected president of Panama. Initially, Mulino was not even the first choice to be Martinelli’s vice-presidential candidate. The original plan was to have Martinelli’s wife, Marta Linares, as the running mate, but she withdrew from the race in October. Mulino entered the campaign as a replacement for Martinelli in March, just months before the election, and his candidacy was only officially endorsed by the Supreme Court of Justice a few days before the election.

Despite Martinelli’s conviction on corruption charges and his disqualification from running for office again, he remains popular in Panama. Mulino shamelessly embraced their connection by visiting him at the Nicaraguan Embassy where he is currently seeking asylum. Throughout his campaign, Mulino repeatedly emphasized his intention to revive the economic success of Martinelli’s government and address issues like unemployment and poverty. He associated himself with the prosperity of that time and promised to fulfill his promises to bring back Panama’s economic prosperity.

Mulino has a long history in Panamanian politics and held various government positions including Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Security under Martinelli where he faced criticism for his handling of protests and corruption allegations. Moving forward, Mulino has proposed ambitious infrastructure projects such as new ports and highways and a new political charter for Panama that aims to strengthen democracy and fight corruption. His presidency will be closely watched to see how he navigates the legacy of Martinelli, addresses corruption and fulfills his promises to the Panamanian people.