Panama leader's deputy-turned-rival wins presidency

Juan Carlos Varela, presidential candidate of Panamenista Party, greets supporters as he arrives to deliver his speech at his closing campaign rally in Panama City April 27, 2014. REUTERS/ Carlos Jasso

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama's vice-president, running as an opposition candidate, won the presidential election on Sunday after a campaign in which he took credit for outgoing leader Ricardo Martinelli's successful economic policies while promising a cleaner government.

Juan Carlos Varela of the center-right Panamenista Party (PP) helped Martinelli get elected as president in 2009 but later fell out with him. He has vowed to tackle corruption, lower inflation and reduce poverty.