Laurentino Cortizo is the PRD candidate for the presidency

Laurentino Cortizo is the PRD candidate for the presidency

After achieving 67% of the votes, Laurentino Cortizo became a presidential candidate for the PRD and called for stopping 'the cancer of corruption'

Laurentino Cortizo yesterday became the presidential candidate of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), in his third attempt to achieve the nomination, after winning the presidential primaries, a tournament that had the participation of nearly 60% of the membership of the political group .

After 8:00 pm, Cortizo accumulated 198 thousand 740 votes (66.9%), while deputy Zulay Rodríguez ranked second, with 59 thousand 365 votes (20%), and former President Ernesto Pérez Balladares had 23 thousand 244 votes ( 7.8%).

The surprise of the day was given by the number 1 on the ballot, the Coclesano Leonel Rodríguez, who was fourth, with 3,235 votes, above more well-known figures, such as Gerardo Solís and Camilo Alleyne.

Figures

1,569 polling stations were placed for these primaries.

15 candidatures to deputies were reserved for alliances that take place in view of the May general elections.

The flagman of the PRD, who was president of the National Assembly in the 2000-2001 period and Minister of Agricultural Development in the administration of Martín Torrijos (2004-2009), stressed that the main task in the electoral closure period will be "to add all the companions around a great project of country ".

And that task seems to be facilitated, since his main rivals in yesterday's race expressed their support for the national suffrage of May 2019.

A cheerful Zulay Rodríguez was very excited because, in her first experience to aspire to the presidency, she has become the second force of the PRD and is willing to talk with Cortizo to collaborate with her government agenda.

For his part, Perez Balladares, in a more conservative tone, said that Cortizo has his vote, although he reiterated that it will be very difficult for the party of the founder to survive if the next elections are lost.

The "Bull", as he is known to the politician, said categorically that "here we are", implying that he will not run again to return to the Palace of the Herons, which was in the quinquennium 1994-1999 .

Speech

In his first speech as PRD nominee for the country's presidency, Laurentino Cortizo called to stop what he called "the cancer of corruption and incapacity."

He reiterated that his campaign will be based on three principles that are "not to lie, not to steal and not to betray the people".

He added that he will work for a Panama with law and order, but above all, fair.

Working day

The bad weather that prevailed in the country was not an obstacle for more than half of those eligible to vote to exercise their right.

"There was a great mobilization, in spite of the rain," said PRD Secretary General Pedro Miguel González, who hopes that unity in the party will prevail to win the people's trust.

The precandidates Gerardo Solis and Zulay Rodríguez denounced some irregularities in places like Darién and Puerto Armuelles.

In the case of Zulay, he denounced the purchase of votes, along with the pre-candidate for deputy for the circuit 8-9 Emily Riverol. They specified that for a vote they paid 30 dollars and if there were two, the sum reached 100.

The candidates admitted that due to the lack of time they did not file complaints with the Electoral Tribunal.

City Halls

In the fight for the mayoral candidacy of the capital district, there was a bitter dispute between José Luis Fábrega and Quibián Panay.

In San Miguelito, César Sanjur obtained the candidacy, after defeating the representative Omar Montilla.