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Laurentino Cortizo spoke to his supporters after the Panama Electoral Tribunal declared him the winner of Sunday's election in Panama City on May 5, 2019. REUTERS / Jose Cabezas

" Saving and transforming Panama ". It is on this promise that Laurentino Cortizo, nicknamed "Nito", was elected President of Panama Sunday. A commitment that goes through more transparency and the restoration of the image of his country dirty including the scandal "Panama Papers" in 2016 and corruption scandals, including that related to the Brazilian public works company Odebrecht. Elected for five years, this entrepreneur and breeder by profession has managed to establish himself as the candidate for renewal despite a long political career.

At 66, the new Panamanian president already has " a number of years of experience in the political arena ," says Sophie Wintgens, a research officer at the Free University of Brussels. Of Greek and Spanish origin, Laurentino Cortizo studies in the United States, and works for the Organization of American States (OAS). Business leader and breeder by profession, he began his career in politics in 1994. He was elected deputy of the province of Colón, after being noticed by going to meet his constituents on horseback or in pirogue.

In 2000, he became president of the National Assembly, before being appointed Minister of Agricultural Development by President Martin Torrijos four years later. He resigned after 15 months to express his opposition to the relaxation of sanitary standards imposed by the Free Trade Agreement with the United States. Standards that he now says he intends to respect as president.

Several times candidate for the presidential nomination

"Nito" Cortizo low profile for a few years, then decided in 2008 to seek the nomination of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD, center left) for the presidential election, but it fails and finishes in third place with 9% of the vote.

After giving up the election in 2013, he returned to the charge in 2018 and manages to federate the PRD behind his candidacy that collects more than 67% of votes at the primary. By winning the presidential election on Sunday, May 5, Laurentino Cortizo allows his party to return to power after ten years in the opposition. For Sophie Wintgens of the Free University of Brussels, this victory is that of " the dominant model and traditional politics, driven by the political and economic elite ".

Governing "without stealing"

Elected on a program that focuses on education and the fight against corruption , Laurentino "Nito" Cortizo promised to make institutions more transparent and punish companies guilty of corruption. He also committed himself to create two new ministries: those of Culture and Woman.

However, by focusing his discourse on inequalities, especially during his meetings in the provinces, the candidate of the PRD built his victory according to Sophie Wintgens. " It is perhaps here that he won his election in the farthest reaches of Panama City, where poverty is greatest ."

If supporters of "Nito" Cortizo praise his humility and social sensitivity, his critics accuse him of surrounding himself with deputies involved in corruption cases. Charges refuted by the new Panamanian president, who ensures that during his term, no one will be "untouchable".

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