Laurentino Cortizo

Panama's Cortizo wins close presidential race

The second-place candidate Romulo Roux, of the centre-right Democratic Change (DC) party, trailed two points behind and has not yet accepted defeat.

Panamanians head to the polls to choose new president

Some 2.7 million people are eligible to vote in Panama's presidential election. The winner will succeed Juan Carlos Varela who can't stand for re-election as per the constitution. Voters will elect 71 deputies, 81 mayors and 700 local lawmakers.