Panama court rules leading candidate Mulino may remain in presidential race

The decision removes uncertainty over Mulino’s eligibility just two days before the vote in the Central American country.

Panama’s Supreme Court has ruled that frontrunner Jose Raul Mulino is eligible to run in the Central American country’s presidential election.

The ruling on Friday came just two days before the vote and ends uncertainty that has loomed over Mulino’s campaign since he replaced former President Ricardo Martinelli as the candidate for the right-wing Realizando Metas (Realizing Goals) party.

Mulino had been Martinelli’s running mate but went to the top of the ticket after Martinelli lost his appeal to overturn his money-laundering conviction, which carries a sentence of 11 years in prison.

Panama’s Electoral Tribunal in March barred Martinelli from standing in the election, citing a provision in the constitution that prohibits anyone sentenced to five years or more from holding elected office.

The tribunal then allowed Mulino, a lawyer who had previously served in Martinelli’s administration, to stand for election despite not fulfilling a law that requires presidential candidates to participate in a party primary and choose a running mate. That decision was challenged in the country’s top court, which ruled on Friday that Mulino’s candidacy did not violate the constitution.