Supermarket Magnate Wins Panama Election

Landslide offers rare right-wing victory in Latin America
By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff
Posted May 4, 2009 5:39 AM CDT
Supermarket Magnate Wins Panama Election
Panama's presidential candidate Ricardo Martinelli celebrates his election victory in Panama City, Sunday, May 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

A conservative supermarket owner won a landslide victory in Panama's presidential election, in a rare win for the political right in the region. Ricardo Martinelli, a multimillionaire who financed his own campaign, vowed to expand investment in the Panama Canal and introduce a flat tax. "We can't continue to have a country where 40% of Panamanians are poor," he said in his victory speech. (Read more Panama stories.)

We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy.
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X