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
Capital:
Panama
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia) and 2 territories*
(comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los
Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas, and a new, as yet unnamed territory*
or comarca created 7 March 1997 when President PEREZ BALLADARES signed a
bill designating a reserve stretched across three provinces
Independence:
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November
1821)
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 the
Supreme 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 (since 1 September 1994); First Vice
President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since 1 September 1994); Second Vice
President Felipe VIRZI (since 1 September 1994); note—the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1 September 1994); First Vice
President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since 1 September 1994); Second Vice
President Felipe VIRZI (since 1 September 1994); 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 popular vote
for five-year terms; election last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 2 May
1999)
election results:
Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES elected president; percent of vote—Ernesto PEREZ
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; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 2 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, PLN 2, PDC 1, UDI 1, MORENA 1
note:
legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis
while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple
legislators by means of a proportion-based formula
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), nine judges appointed
for 10-year terms; five superior courts; three courts of appeal
Political parties and leaders:
governing coalition:
Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Gerardo GONZALEZ]; National Liberal
Party or PLN [Raul ARANGO, founder]; Popular Nationalist Party [Jorge
FLORES]
other parties:
Solidarity Party or PS [Carlos CLEMENT]; Nationalist Republican Liberal
Movement or MOLIRENA [Guillermo FORD]; Arnulfista Party or PA [Mireya
MOSCOSO DE GRUBER]; Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Ruben AROSEMENA];
Papa Egoro Movement or MPE [Ruben BLADES]; Civic Renewal Party or PRC
[Sandra ESCORCIA]; National Renovation Movement or MORENA [Pedro
VALLARINO]; Authentic Liberal Party or PLA [leader NA]; Labor Party or PALA
[leader NA]; Independent Democratic Union or UDI [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of
Private Enterprise or CONEP; Panamanian Association of Business Executives
or APEDE; National Civic Crusade; Chamber of Commerce; Panamanian
Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic of
Panama or CTRP
International organization participation:
CAN (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, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Eloy ALFARO de Alba
chancery:
2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 483-1407
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San
Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Simon FERRO
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 (hoist
side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red, the bottom
quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed
star in the center
