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Parties and Candidates

Panama Panama

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question:What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s): a. Signature requirement (specify requirement)
c. Regional distribution requirement
f. Other
Comments: * Signatures equivalent to at least 4% of the total valid votes cast in the last presidential elections * The distribution most be as follows: 7 in at least 40% of the country's districts; 10 per province and 5 per comarca (indigenous district) * File statutes and declaration of principles * There is a clear distinction in the law of two separate stages in terms of the constitution and legal recognition of a political party. First, an application, subscribed by at least 500 citizens with all their political rights, must be presented to the Electoral Tribunal. Once such application is approved, along with the proposed declaration of principles, government program and statutes, the political party has one year to gather the necessary members for obtaining its legal recognition, without which political parties cannot nominate candidates.
Source: Electoral Code: “Código Electoral”, art. 47, 51, 52–53 62–65, 67: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/PA/panama-codigo-electoral-2023/
Verified: 2024/12/05
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question:What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s): a. Age
b. Citizenship
d. Residence
Comments: The candidates: a) must be Panamanian citizens, born or naturalized, residing 15 years in the country; b) must be 21 years old; d) must have one year of residence at the electoral constituency for which they wish to run.
Source: Constitution: “Constitución Política de la República de Panamá”, art. 153: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/PA/panama-constitucion-politica-de-la-republica-2004 Electoral Code: “Código Electoral”, art. 10, 33, 336, 338: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/PA/panama-codigo-electoral-2023/
Verified: 2024/12/05
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC008

Independent candidates
Question:Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s): b. In presidential elections
c. In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments: Only the 3 independent candidates with the highest number of signatures can compete in presidential elections.
Source: Constitution: “Constitución Política de la República de Panamá”, art. 146: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/PA/panama-constitucion-politica-de-la-republica-2004 Electoral Code: “Código Electoral”, art. 3, 312–318, 326–332, 345, 356, 365,: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/PA/panama-codigo-electoral-2023/
Verified: 2024/12/05
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC012

Public funding of parties
Question:Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s): b. Direct
c. Indirect
Comments:
Source: Constitution: “Constitución Política de la República de Panamá”, art. 141: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/PA/panama-constitucion-politica-de-la-republica-2004 Electoral Code: “Código Electoral”, art. 108–109, 110 (8, 9, 13, 14), 200, 207–212, 214–218: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/PA/panama-codigo-electoral-2023/
Verified: 2024/12/05
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC015


Question:What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s): a. Equal funding, regardless of size and previous performance
b. Based on result of previous election
e. Other
Comments: Independent candidates are granted an amount according to the number of signatures gathered to support their candidacies. 40% of the funding is distributed before the elections equally to all eligible political parties. The remaining 60% is distributed to political parties who kept their legal registration and independent candidates who were elected according to the number of votes obtained.
Source: Electoral Code: “Código Electoral”, art. 207–218: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/PA/panama-codigo-electoral-2023/
Verified: 2024/12/05
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
PC017


Question:Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: Contributions from individuals or legal entities are allowed, they can be made in cash, and up to 10,000 balboas per year can be deducted from taxes.
Source: Electoral Code: “Código Electoral”, art. 231–233, 244: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/PA/panama-codigo-electoral-2023/
Verified: 2024/12/05
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
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