Editing Panama (section)

==Politics==
{{Main|Politics of Panama}}

[[File:Asamblea Nacional de Panamá.JPG|thumb|The [[National Assembly of Panama]]]]
Panama's politics take place in a framework of a [[presidential system|presidential]] [[representative democracy|representative democratic]] republic, whereby the [[President of Panama]] is both [[head of state]] and [[head of government]], and of a [[multi-party system]]. [[Executive power]] is exercised by the government. [[Legislative power]] is vested in both the government and the [[National Assembly of Panama|National Assembly]]. The [[judiciary]] is independent of the executive and the legislature.

National elections are universal for all citizens 18 years and older. National elections for the executive and legislative branches take place every five years. Members of the judicial branch (justices) are appointed by the head of state. Panama's [[National Assembly of Panama|National Assembly]] is elected by proportional representation in fixed electoral districts, so many smaller parties are represented. Presidential elections require a [[Plurality (voting)|plurality]]; out of the five last presidents only ex-president Ricardo Martinelli has managed to be elected with over 50 percent of the popular vote.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8031425.stm Tycoon elected Panama's president] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620004924/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8031425.stm |date=June 20, 2017 }} Retrieved July 25, 2010</ref>

===Political culture===
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}
Since the end of [[Manuel Noriega]]'s military dictatorship in 1989, Panama has completed five peaceful transfers of power to opposing political factions. The political landscape is dominated by two major parties and various smaller parties, many of which are driven by individual leaders more than ideologies. Former president [[Martín Torrijos]] is the son of the general [[Omar Torrijos]]. He succeeded [[Mireya Moscoso]], the widow of the former president [[Arnulfo Arias]]. Panama's most recent [[2024 Panamanian general election|national elections]] took place on May 5, 2024.

===Foreign relations===
{{Further|Foreign relations of Panama}}
The United States cooperates with the Panamanian government in promoting economic, political, security, and social development through US and international agencies. Cultural ties between the two countries are strong,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-panama/|title=U.S. Relations With Panama|website=state.gov|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|date=November 3, 2022|accessdate=December 19, 2022|archive-date=May 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514091840/https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2030.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and many Panamanians go to the United States for higher education and advanced training.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panama (11/07) |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/panama/95380.htm |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=U.S. Department of State |archive-date=April 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403111632/https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/panama/95380.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Panama is the 96th most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024 [[Global Peace Index]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf|title=2024 Global Peace Index|access-date=August 18, 2024|archive-date=August 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819091540/https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Military===
{{Further|Panamanian Public Forces}}
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2020}}
Shortly after its independence from Colombia in 1903, Panama abolished its army. It maintained police operations throughout the nation. During the 1940s, the Chief of Police of Panama City, [[José Antonio Remón Cantera|José Remón]], exercised pronounced political power in Panama. He removed and appointed several presidents. In 1952 he ran for president. The campaign was marred by police brutality and persecution of the opposition. In an election questioned by independent observers, Remón was declared the president. Less than three years later Remón was assassinated. He was the only president to be assassinated in Panamanian history. Today the [[Panamanian Public Forces]] are the national security forces of Panama. Panama is the second country in Latin America (the other being [[Costa Rica]]) to permanently abolish its standing army. Panama maintains armed police and security forces, and small air and maritime forces. They are tasked with law enforcement and can perform limited military actions.

In 2017, Panama signed the UN [[treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament&nbsp;– No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection |date=July 7, 2017 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806220546/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Panama adheres to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |url=https://www.panamatoday.com/panama/panama-adheres-treaty-prohibition-nuclear-weapons-5273 |work=Panama Today |date=September 20, 2017 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815123543/https://www.panamatoday.com/panama/panama-adheres-treaty-prohibition-nuclear-weapons-5273 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Administrative divisions===
{{Image label begin|image=División Política de Panamá.svg|width=500|float=center}}
{{Image label small|x=0.11|y=0.05|scale=500|text=[[Bocas del Toro Province|Bocas<br />del Toro]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.43|y=0.19|scale=500|text=[[Coclé Province|Coclé]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.54|y=0.07|scale=500|text=[[Colón Province|Colón]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.07|y=0.19|scale=500|text=[[Chiriquí Province|Chiriquí]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.81|y=0.23|scale=500|text=[[Darién Province|Darién]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.38|y=0.31|scale=500|text=[[Herrera Province|Herrera]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.42|y=0.36|scale=500|text=[[Los Santos Province|Los Santos]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.50|y=0.14|scale=500|text=[[Panamá Oeste Province|Panamá<br />Oeste]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.62|y=0.09|scale=500|text=[[Panamá Province|Panamá]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.28|y=0.28|scale=500|text=[[Veraguas Province|Veraguas]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.78|y=0.05|scale=500|text=[[Guna Yala]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.89|y=0.21|scale=500|text=[[Emberá Comarca|Emberá]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.81|y=0.32|scale=500|text=[[Emberá Comarca|Emberá]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.03|y=0.06|scale=500|text=[[Naso Tjër Di Comarca|Naso<br />Tjër Di]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.18|y=0.18|scale=500|text=[[Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca|Ngäbe-Buglé]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.74|y=0.10|scale=500|text=[[Madungandí]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.82|y=0.13|scale=500|text=[[Guna de Wargandí|Wargandí]]}}
{{Image label end}}

{{Main|Provinces and regions of Panama}}
Panama is divided into ten provinces with their respective local authorities (governors). Each is divided into [[districts of Panama|districts]] and [[corregimientos of panama|''corregimientos'']] (townships). Also, there are six ''Comarcas'' (literally: "Shires") populated by a variety of indigenous groups.

'''Provinces'''
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Bocas del Toro Province|Bocas del Toro]]
* [[Chiriquí Province|Chiriquí]]
* [[Coclé Province|Coclé]]
* [[Colón Province|Colón]]
* [[Darién Province|Darién]]
* [[Herrera Province|Herrera]]
* [[Los Santos Province|Los Santos]]
* [[Panamá Province|Panamá]]
* [[West Panamá Province|West Panamá]]
* [[Veraguas Province|Veraguas]]
}}
'''Comarcas'''
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Emberá Comarca|Emberá]]
* [[Guna Yala]]
* [[Naso Tjër Di Comarca|Naso Tjër Di]]
* [[Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca|Ngäbe-Buglé]]
* [[Madungandí]]
* [[Guna de Wargandí]]
}}