PANAMA CITY - Social Democrat Laurentino Cortizo won Panama's presidential election Sunday in a close race that saw a large number of voters turn out amid concerns over corruption scandals and the country's image as a money-launderer's paradise. Social Democrat Laurentino Cortizo (C) won a narrow victory in Panama's presidential election, with a margin of fewer than 40,000 votes"I feel very happy. What we have to do now is join forces as a country," Cortizo told reporters shortly before the electoral tribunal confirmed his victory. Trailing well behind the pair was surprise independent candidate Ricardo Lombana, a lawyer and journalist who took 19.34 percent after campaigning on an anti-corruption ticket. It was the sixth presidential election since the United States' 1989 invasion to overthrow the Manuel Noriega dictatorship.

Source: Bangkok Post May 06, 2019 06:11 UTC