¿Más vale diablo conocido que diablo por conocer? Continuidad y cambio en las elecciones generales de Panamá de 2024

Juan Diego Alvarado; Lucas Lucas Perello

doi:10.61311/2805-1912.220

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Alvarado, J. D., & Lucas Perello, L. (2026). Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t: Continuity and change in Panama’s 2024 general elections. Revista Gobierno Y Sociedad, (9), 55–74. https://doi.org/10.61311/2805-1912.220

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Published: Jul 3, 2026

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https://doi.org/10.61311/2805-1912.220

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No. 9 (2026): Enero-Junio

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Artículos

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Juan Diego Alvarado

University of Maryland

Lucas Lucas Perello

Florida Atlantic University

Abstract

In the year 2024, Panama experienced one of its most disruptive elections since its transition to democracy. Voters rejected the dominant bloc of parties, which included the ruling party, the Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD), and the main opposition coalition composed of Democratic Change Party (Cambio Democrático (CD)) and the Very Panamanian Party (Panameñista Party (PAN)). Since 1999, these three parties won more than 50% of the votes in all presidential elections. In 2024, however, they received less than 20% of the votes. The Legislative and local elections also presented similar results. The results of the elections indicated that voters demanded a change in the country; which they expressed in two different ways. On the one hand, a segment of the electorate called for the return of former president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) through the candidacy of Raúl Mulino—the winner of the elections. On the other hand, a significant portion of the electorate opted for a more comprehensive break from traditional parties by supporting independent candidates.

Keywords

América Latina

candidaturas independientes

elecciones

realineamiento electoral

voto de castigo

Elections

electoral realignment

independent candidacies

Latin America

retrospective voting

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Academic society: Instituto de Estudios Democráticos
Publisher: Instituto de Estudios Democráticos

Author Biography / See

Lucas Lucas Perello, Florida Atlantic University

Dr. Perelló is an assistant professor of political science. He received his Ph.D. from The New School. His research focuses on democracy and electoral behavior in Latin America and the Caribbean. He received a 2019-2020 Fulbright grant to complete his dissertation fieldwork in Honduras. Dr. Perelló’s research has been published in the Journal of Democracy , International Journal of Public Opinion Research , Studies in Comparative International Development , Contemporary Politics , Journal of Politics in Latin America , and Politics . His writing has appeared in The New York Times , Foreign Policy , and Americas Quarterly . Prior to joining Florida Atlantic University, Dr. Perelló taught at Marist College, Skidmore College, and New York University.

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