Vice President of Panama wins the primary elections of the ruling PRD party

( Spanish) — The Vice President of Panama, José Gabriel Carrizo, became this Sunday the virtual winner of the primary elections of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), now in power, and will be the presidential candidate with a view to the general elections in May 2024.

The announcement, which for now is based on unofficial results, was made by the Electoral Tribunal through a video call to José Gabriel Carrizo, marking an irreversible trend, after counting 73.9% of the votes.

The Electoral Tribunal reported that the message was transmitted in the presence of magistrates, authorities and officials of the entity, international observers, electoral delegates and the media.

In this way, Carrizo, 39, a Panamanian politician and lawyer, becomes unofficially the PRD presidential candidate for the elections to be held on May 5, 2024.

“I receive this news with humility, thanking God and the Virgin, but I also receive it with the conviction of defending a government with social sensitivity, defending an administration of President (Laurentino) Cortizo, who has made much for this country, in social investment and in human character”, were Carrizo’s first words before the call from the Electoral Tribunal.

At the time of the announcement, the Unofficial Transmission of Results (TER) system marked more than 55% of the votes counted in favor of the candidacy of the current vice president Carrizo.

Once the scrutiny boards finish their work, the process will proceed to reach the official result, it was explained from the Electoral Tribunal.

The PRD went to primary elections with an electoral roll of more than 731,000 registered, of which more than 401,000 voted, that is, 54.8% of its membership.

Until Sunday night, José Gabriel Carrizo obtained more than 152,000 votes, while his closest contender, congressman Crispiano Adames, obtained almost 78,000 votes (28.1%).