Ricardo Martinelli, a conservative supermarket bigwig, won Panama’s presidential election on Sunday with ease, despite Latin America’s recent leaning towards leftist leaders.
Martinelli had taken 43% of the vote by the time the electoral tribunal declared him the winner. His lead over former housing minister Balbina 
Herrera was a whopping 61% to 36%.
Martinelli is quoted as saying, “Starting on July 1, a change is coming to Panama. We will govern with the best in Panama.”
Supporters of Martinelli are eager to see him fulfill promises to improve education, transportation and public security.
Despite being a conservative, who last year attented the U.S. Republican National Convention in Minnesota, there are many similarites to Martinelli’s campaign as that of democratic Barak Obama’s. Martinelli promises to redirect Panama’s government and to be a catalyst for real change.
It will be interesting to see what Martinelli does in the face of global economic crisis and amidst neighboring leftists.
