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. 1996 Index
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Panama Government 1996
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Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca);
Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama,
San Blas*, Veraguas
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November
1821)
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the
Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
chief of state and head of government:
President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994,
elected 8 May 1994); First Vice President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE
(since 1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez
(since 1 September 1994 election last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May
1999); results - Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO DE
GRUBER (PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES (MOLIRENA) 16%
Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa):
legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis
while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple
legislators by means of a proportion-based formula; elections last held 8
May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA
; seats - (72 total) PRD 32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3,
PRC 3, PL 2, PDC 1, UDI 1, MORENA 1
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), 5 superior courts, 3
courts of appeal
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Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Solidarity Party
(PS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO; Liberal Republican Party (PLR), Rodolfo CHIARI;
Labor Party (PALA), Carlos Lopez GUEVARA
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ;
Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party (PA),
Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Raul OSSA;
Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Papa Egoro Movement (MPE), Ruben
BLADES; Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Tomas HERRERA; National Unity Mission
Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES; Independent Democratic Union (UDI),
Jacinto CARDENAS; National Renovation Movement (MORENA), Pedro VALLERINO
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Other political or pressure groups:
National Council of Organized Workers (CONATO); National Council of Private
Enterprise (CONEP); Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE);
National Civic Crusade; Chamber of Commerce; Panamanian Industrialists
Society (SIP); Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama (CTRP)
AG (associate), CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in US:
Ambassador Ricardo Alberto ARIAS
2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan
(Puerto Rico), Tampa
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US diplomatic representation:
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Oliver P. GARZA
Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945; APO AA 34002
divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist
side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red, the bottom
quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star
in the center
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