Panama's Electoral Tribunal late Sunday declared Jose Raul Mulino, the candidate of the opposition alliance comprised of the Realizing Goals party and Alianza movement, as the winner of the presidential elections after a preliminary count of 87 percent of voting stations.

Mulino, a former lawyer, led the field of eight candidates with 34 percent of the votes, followed by Ricardo Lombana of the Otro Camino movement, with 25 percent of the votes.

Mulino entered the race as the running mate of former president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) but became a candidate on his own right after Martinelli was disqualified from running in March due to a conviction related to money laundering.

On Sunday, the head of the Electoral Tribunal Alfredo Junca confirmed via a video call to Mulino that he was the preliminary winner of the presidential race in the 2024 general elections.

Junca congratulated Mulino and invited him to attend a plenary session of the tribunal on Sunday evening.

Mulino said that in the coming five-year term he was confident in establishing a peaceful, honest, and above all, efficient government that could address the enormous needs of Panamanians.

The former minister of justice and of public security also pledged his commitment to leading a unity government as soon as possible.

According to Panama's Electoral Tribunal, a total of 3,035 polling centers have been set up for the general elections, with more than 3 million registered voters and a turnout of 77.25 percent.

Members of the National Assembly and leaders of local governments will also be elected during the general elections.

SHOTLIST:

Panama City, Panama - May 5, 2024
1. Various of voters entering polling center;
2. Various of voters discussing;
3. Various of employees at polling site;
4. Voters in line;
5. Various of voters casting ballots;
6. Various of employees counting ballots.

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