Panama elects new President

By James Blears

A high 77-percent turnout of Panama's three million voters,  and with more than ninety percent of the vote in, 64-year-old Jose Raul Mulino, former Security Minister,  who also served as Justice Minister and Foreign Secretary,  has won with an unassailable lead.

His three main rivals have already conceded defeat and are pledging to work for a united smooth transition. 

He'll be inaugurated President and Prime Minister on July 1st, after this one and only first round contest, which is now completed. 

The Supreme Court only ruled on Friday that he was eligible to take part. 

Mulino, of the Achieving Goals Party, was running to be Vice President, but now the top job is his. 

Ex-President Ricardo Martinelli, who ran the country between 2009 and 2014, was their original candidate, but banned, after, last year, being convicted of money laundering. 

Concerning the task ahead, Mulino said, ''This is the greatest responsibility which falls upon my shoulders...to lead the destiny of Panama.

Although the economy is strong, it remains static; there have been anti-government demonstrations, public debt is high and the pensions system needs sorting out.

There are promises to tackle corruption. Mulino will need to work with a legislature which was also up for election on the same day.

Complex and multi-economic and political challenges now face him.