Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino gestures to his supporters after he was declared the winner of the presidential election based on preliminary results by the electoral authority, in Panama City, Panama May 5, 2024. REUTERS/Tarina Rodriguez
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama's President-elect Jose Raul Mulino told a cheering crowd moments after he won Sunday's general election that he was "no one's puppet", having parachuted into the presidential race late to replace his former boss Ricardo Martinelli who was barred from running after a money laundering conviction.
Mulino is widely regarded as gruff and less charismatic than ex-president Martinelli whose popularity propelled Mulino to victory on Sunday night. Before the election, Mulino was best known for his tough stance against anti-government protesters during his time as security minister under Martinelli's administration which governed from 2009 to 2014.
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