In a recent Ipsos poll, Ricardo Martinelli, presidential candidate for the Democratic Change (CD) party currently leads the race to replace Martin Torrijos with 36 percent support from respondents who will be voting in Panama's elections next May.

Balbina Herrera of the Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) is just behind with 32 percent support followed by Juan Carlos Varela of the Panamenista Party (PPA) who has 13 percent support. Rounding out the presidential hopefuls is newcomer, Guillermo Endara, who currently has 1 percent support.

Incumbent PRD member Martin Torrijos, the son of former President Omar Torrijos, won the May 2004 presidential election with over 47% of the popular vote. Torrijos has had an up and down presidency with the major highlights including the ambitious plan to expand the Panama Canal and Avenida Balboa area overlooking Panama Bay.

On November 24th, the Patriotic Union Party (PUP) extended an offer to the CD party to support Martinelli's bid which CD accepted. PUP leader Raul Mulino celebrated the endorsement with this quote:

"Everybody is sick of the daily issues without solutions, and the [person] who can offer a non-traditional approach is precisely Ricardo Martinelli, who is proposing real change."

Presidential elections in Panama are set for May, 2009.

Poll Data:

Who would you vote for in the next presidential election?

• Ricardo Martinelli (CD) 36%
• Balbina Herrera (PRD) 32%
• Juan Carlos Varela (PPA) 13%
• Guillermo Endara (VMP) 1%
• None of these / Not sure 18%

Source: Ipsos
Methodology: Interviews with 962 Panamanian adults, conducted from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, 2008. Margin of error is 3.2 per cent.