chief of state: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September
2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September
2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1
September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1
September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1
September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since
1 September 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms (not eligible for immediate
reelection; president and vice presidents must sit out two
additional terms (10 years) before becoming eligible for
reelection); election last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held on 3 May
2009); note - beginning in 2009, Panama will have only one vice
president
election results: Martin TORRIJOS Espino elected president; percent
of vote - Martin TORRIJOS Espino 47.5%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany
30.6%, Jose Miguel ALEMAN 17%, Ricardo MARTINELLI 4.9%
note: government coalition - PRD (Democratic Revolutionary Party),
PP (Popular Party)

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (78 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in
2009, the number of seats will change to 71
elections: last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PRD 41, PA 17, PS 9, MOLIRENA 4, CD 3, PLN 3, PP 1
note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a
plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and
cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based
formula

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges
appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three courts of
appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic
Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hugo GUIRAUD]; Nationalist Republican
Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Gisela CHUNG]; Panamenista Party or PA
[Juan Carlos VARELA] (formerly the Arnulfista Party); Patriotic
Union Party or PU (combination of the Liberal National Party or PLN
and the Solidarity Party or PS)[Jose Raul MULINO and Anibal
GALINDO]; Popular Party or PP [Rene ORILLAC] (formerly Christian
Democ