The Diplomat in Spain

The Diplomat

The Government of Spain yesterday congratulated the “Panamanian people for the development of the presidential election” and conveyed to the elected president, José Raúl Mulino, “his willingness to continue deepening bilateral relations between both countries.”

“The Government of Spain reiterates its commitment to continue deepening the fraternal ties that exist between the Spanish and Panamanian peoples and wishes to convey to the elected president, José Raúl Mulino, its willingness to continue deepening the bilateral relations between both countries and the fruitful cooperation in favor of our societies and the Ibero-American Community of Nations for the benefit of our citizens,” declared the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release.

The right-wing lawyer José Raúl Mulino, candidate of the Realizing Goals party and former Minister of Security, won this Sunday with more than a third of the votes over his rivals in the presidential election, Ricardo Lombana, of the Other Path Movement (Moca), and the former president Martín Torrijos (2004-2009), of the Popular Party (PP, center-right).

Mulino had initially presented himself as a running mate for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), but the latter’s political disqualification (sentenced to ten years in prison for money laundering) led him to become, two months ago, the candidate. major. His designation as a presidential candidate was endorsed by the Supreme Court of Justice just a few days before the election.