Panama's highest court ruled on Friday that The presidential candidacy of former President Ricardo Martinelli's former running mate, José Raúl Mulino, is constitutionaldays before the elections.
Mulino joined the race in March as Martinelli's replacement after he was removed from the race due to a nearly 11-year sentence. for money laundering. The latest polls place Mulino as the favorite to win the May 5 elections.
The highest Panamanian court affirmed that “the sovereign will of the Panamanian people” motivated its decision, underlining the importance of preserving democracy, institutional integrity, social peace and the right of citizens to vote.
Martinelli was leading the polls before being excluded, and the latest polls show that Mulino has inherited his popularity. Martinelli had been supporting Mulino through social networks from the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been living following his conviction after being granted asylum.
