PANAMá 2009: ELECCIONES, CRISIS MUNDIAL Y MOVIMIENTOS SOCIALES

in 2009, panama had to deal with the global economic recession and, at the same time, continue widening the panamá canal at a cost of us$ 5.25 billion. the global recession was able to slow down panama's economic growth. meanwhile public policies spurred popular protests and a growing crime rate. panamá elected a new president in 2009 who was able to bring down with success what seemed to be shaping up to be a two-party political structure. on the international front, president martinelli inaugurated his mandate setting-up 11 air and naval bases to "combat drug trafficking." president martinelli's administration lack of political culture and experience can be signs of a weakening of democratic institutions.