Venezuela's opposition congratulated Mulino on winning Panama's presidential election

Opposition parties Venezuela is a new era (UNT) and popular will (VP) congratulated this Monday Jose Raul Mulino, He was elected president of Panama for the 2024-2029 period after Sunday's election, in which he won 34.4% of the vote.

With presidential elections on July 28, both parties support Edmundo González Urrutia, the candidate supported by the opposition coalition's Democratic Unitary Platform.

“We look forward to your greater willingness to contribute to the re-institutionalization of our nation Foster better bilateral relations In Venezuela's soon-to-be democracy,” added V.P.

For his part, he was a two-time opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles He congratulated Mulino through the same social network and believes that “this change” means “new opportunities and improvements” for Venezuelans living in Panama.

With more than 90% of the votes counted, Mulino received 34.4%, compared to 25% for anti-establishment candidate Ricardo Lombana, 16% for former president Martín Torrijos (2004–2009) and 11.2% for Democrat Rómulo Roux. change

Mulino, 64, appeared to be leading some polls published before the vote He was appointed at the last minute by the Election Tribunal As the candidate of the Save Panama coalition, made up of Realize Goals and Alianza parties, to replace disqualified former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014).

Panama is one of the countries that have expressed their “concern” about the situation in Venezuela They also called on the South American country to hold “free and transparent” presidential elections in which President Nicolas Maduro will seek a second re-election.

Mulino, among his campaign promises, proposed closing the border crossing with Colombia, a dense jungle, to deal with the migration crisis. “We're going to close Darien, we're going to respect human rights, and we're going to send all these people back accordingly.” Cited in BBC One of his interventions was during his adventures in Panama.

In the Spanish version of the British media, the next Central American president, who will take office in July, He promises to be able to stop the migrants because he knows the area and assures that he has done so with the guerrillas of the extinct FARC. In 2010, when he was Minister of Defense, during the administration of Riccardo Martinelli, who supported him precisely in these elections.

According to Panamanian officials, as of February of this year, some 68,400 migrants had crossed through the Darien forest irregularly, 33% more than the 45,727 people who crossed through the same period in 2023 to realize the American dream. , breaking records again.

(with information from EFE)