Under pressure from Washington and unfounded accusations, Panama cedes ground to the United States and breaks key agreements with China, marking a geopolitical shift in the control of the interoceanic canal.

As of September 2024, there has been a notable decrease in arrivals through the Darién, which may indicate a trend reversal.

Ricardo Martinelli led all polls for years. But after being disqualified by a sentence of more than 10 years in prison for money laundering, he was relieved by José Raúl Mulino, who is emerging as the probable winner.

Panama is facing the biggest political crisis since the transition to democracy, with massive demonstrations and closures on the country's main roads.

The trigger for the demonstrations was the increase in gasoline, food and medicine prices, but, according to CIEPS survey data, corruption is the underlying problem that unleashed them.