Political and Economic Environment

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Panama is a representative democracy with three branches of government: executive and legislative branches elected by direct vote for 5-year terms, and an appointed judiciary. The judicial branch is organized under a nine-member Supreme Court (each judge is appointed for a 10-year term) and includes all tribunals and municipal courts. An autonomous Electoral Tribunal supervises voter registration, the election process, and the activities of political parties. Anyone over the age of 18 may vote.

PRINCIPAL GOVERNEMENT OFFICIALS

President--Ricardo MARTINELLI

Vice President --Juan Carlos VARELA

Minister of Foreign Affairs--Roberto HENRIQUEZ

Ambassador to the United States—Mario JARAMILLO

Ambassador to the Organization of American States--Guillermo COCHEZ

Panama maintains an embassy in the United States at 2862 McGill Terrace, NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel: 202-483-1407), and consulates in Washington DC, Honolulu, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Juan, San Diego, and Tampa.

For more background information on the political and economic environment of the country, please click on the link below for the U.S. Department of State Background Notes: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2030.htm#political

Government of Panama website: http://www.presidencia.gob.pa/.