ember 1994); Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI (since 1
September 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 8 May 1994
(next to be held 2 May 1999)
election results: Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES elected president;
percent of vote--Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO
DE GRUBER (PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES
(MOLIRENA) 16%

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea
Legislativa (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 2 May 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRD
32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PLN 2, PDC
1, UDI 1, MORENA 1
note: 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

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), nine judges appointed for 10-year terms; five superior
courts; three courts of appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of
Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of Private Enterprise
or CONEP; Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE;
National Civic Crusade; Chamber of Commerce; Panamanian
Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic
of Panama or CTRP

International organization participation: CAN (associate), CCC,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eloy ALFARO de Alba
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Simon FERRO
embassy: Avenida Balboa and Cal