Opposition Alliance Gains Ground in Panama
(plenglish.com) The presidential candidate for the opposition Alianza por el Cambio en Panama (Alliance for Change in Panama), Ricardo Martinelli, is supported by 50 percent of potential voters, winning seven points since January.
According to a survey by Unimer Research International, support for Martinelli's increased after an agreement with the parties Cambio Democratico, Panameñista, Union Patriotica and Movimiento Liberal Republicano Nacionalista (MOLIRENA).
In a survey carried out in October 2008, Martinelli was supported by 32.4 percent of potential voters.
In the governing Partido Revolucionario Democratico (PRD), presidential candidate Balbina Herrera won 28.5 percent of potential votes, three points more than in January.
The survey, which interviewed 1,250 people from February 4-6 and has a margin of error of 2.8 percent, showed that Guillermo Endara, of Vanguardia Moral de la Patria, is supported by 3.8 percent of potential voters.
Considering the Panamanians who will vote, the PRD candidate is backed by 33.1 percent, compared to 52.2 percent who support Martinelli.
In the May 3 elections, Panamanians will elect the president and the vice president of the Republic, as well as 623 coregiment representatives, 75 mayors, 71 National Assembly lawmakers, 20 deputies to the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) and seven council people.
