Country name
conventional long form:
Republic of Panama
conventional short form:
Panama
local long form:
Republica de Panama
local short form:
Panama
Data code
PM
Government type
constitutional republic
National capital
Panama
Administrative divisions
9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca);Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama,San Blas*, Veraguas
Independence
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November1821)
National holiday
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Constitution
11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
Legal system
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in theSupreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch
chief of state :
President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September1994); First Vice President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September1994); Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1 September1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government :
President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September1994); First Vice President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September1994); Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1 September1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:
president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popularvote for five-year terms; election last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9May 1999)
election results:
Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES elected president; percent of vote - ErnestoPEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER (PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES(MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES (MOLIRENA) 16%
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (72 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections :
last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 32, PS 4, PALA 1,PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PL 2, PDC 1, UDI 1, MORENA 1
note:
legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a pluralitybasis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiplelegislators by means of a proportion-based formula
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), nine judges appointedfor 10-year terms; five superior courts; three courts of appeal
Political parties and leaders
governing coalition :
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Liberal RepublicanParty (PLR), Rodolfo CHIARI; Labor Party (PALA), Carlos Lopez GUEVARA
other parties:
Solidarity Party (PS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO; Nationalist RepublicanLiberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Ramon MORALES Quijano; Authentic Liberal Party(PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER;Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Ruben AROSEMENA; Liberal Party (PL), RobertoALEMAN Zubieta; Papa Egoro Movement (MPE), Gloria YOUNG; Civic Renewal Party(PRC), Tomas HERRERA; National Unity Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES;Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Jacinto CARDENAS; National RenovationMovement (MORENA), Pedro VALLERINO
Political pressure groups and leaders
National Council of Organized Workers (CONATO); National Council ofPrivate Enterprise (CONEP); Panamanian Association of Business Executives(APEDE); National Civic Crusade; Chamber of Commerce; Panamanian IndustrialistsSociety (SIP); Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama (CTRP)
International organization participation
AG (associate), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission:
Ambassador Eduardo Gonzalez MORGAN
chancery:
2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 483-1407
consulate(s) general :
Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan(Puerto Rico), Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission:
Ambassador William John HUGHES
embassy:
Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
mailing address :
American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone:
[507] 227-1377
FAX:
[507] 227-1964
Flag description
divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoistside) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red, the bottomquadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed starin the center
NOTE: The information regarding Panama on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Panama Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Panama Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.
