Americas

Panama

Political journey

Panama separated from Colombia in 1903 with US backing, and the United States built and ran the Panama Canal until handing it over on 31 December 1999. A US invasion in 1989 ended General Noriega’s military rule. Panama has been a democracy since, with an economy driven by the canal, shipping and finance.

Panama today

Its current leader’s position on the ten Caucus dimensions.

💰EconomyLeaning free market
State-ledFree market
⚖️Liberty and authorityLeaning authoritarian
LibertarianAuthoritarian
🎭CultureLeaning traditional
ProgressiveTraditional
🌍NationStrongly nationalist
GlobalistNationalist
🌱EnvironmentLeaning growth-first
Growth-firstNature-first
🤖TechnologyLeaning tech-optimist
Tech-cautiousTech-optimist
🕊️War and peaceLeaning strength-first
Peace-firstStrength-first
🏛️InstitutionsSlightly institutional
Anti-establishmentInstitutional
🙏ReligionLeaning religious
SecularReligious
🛡️InterventionismCentered on interventionism
Non-interventionistInterventionist

Who leads Panama today

Portrait of José Raúl Mulino

José Raúl Mulino

President of Panama, 2024 to present

A former security minister who won the 2024 election promising order and investment, and who has rejected foreign claims on the Panama Canal.

José Raúl Mulino sits in the right-authoritarian part of the Caucus economy and liberty compass: leaning free market and leaning authoritarian. The clearest positions are strongly nationalist on nation, leaning free market on economy and leaning authoritarian on liberty and authority. The profile is close to the middle on interventionism.

Full profile of José Raúl Mulino →

Political views closest to Panama’s leadership

National conservatismPrioritizes national sovereignty, cultural identity, tradition and firm borders.97%CorporatismOrganizes society into industry and professional bodies that bargain with the state, an…96%Thatcherism and ReaganismFree-market economics, tax cuts, deregulation and a firm stance toward the Soviet Union.95%GaullismA French tradition of national independence, a strong presidency and a leading role for…95%

Countries with similar leadership

Ranked by how close their current leaders are on the ten dimensions.

HondurasAmericas99%ThailandAsia & Oceania99%LibyaAfrica & Middle East99%IraqAfrica & Middle East99%

Country histories are short summaries. Positions are simplified estimates of the leaders included in Caucus as of October 2026, and percentages show how close two profiles are across all ten dimensions.