Varela wins presidential vote in Panama

Panama City, May 5 (IANS) Juan Carlos Varela from the opposition Panamenista Party won the presidential election, Supreme Electoral Court President Erasmo Pinilla said Sunday.

With 60 percent of the ballots counted, incumbent Vice President Varela garnered 39.2 percent of vote, followed by Jose Domingo Arias from the ruling Democratic Change Party with 32 percent, and Juan Carlos Navarro from the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party with 27 percent, Xinhua reported.

The electoral court chief had notified Varela of his victory by phone which was broadcast live.

Some 2.4 million Panamanians went to the polls Sunday to elect a new president and a vice-president, 71 members of parliament, 77 mayors, 648 district representatives, seven councilors and 20 members of the Central American Parliament.