Conventional Long Form Name of Panama: Republic of Panama Capital City(ies): Republic of Panama Type of Government: Republic of Panama Date of Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821) National Holiday(s) include date & event/celebration: Independence Day, 3 November (1903) Chief of State (official public face of government): President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez (since 1 July 2009); Head of Government (actual leader of government): President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez (since 1 July 2009); Description of Executive Branch/Powers: cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (president not eligible for immediate reelection and must sit out two additional terms (10 years) before becoming eligible for reelection); election last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014) Description of Legislative Branch/Powers: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014) note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula Description of Judicial Branch/Powers: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 magistrates and 9 alternates and divided into civil, criminal, administrative, and general business chambers) judge selection and term of office: magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms subordinate courts: appellate courts or Tribunal Superior; Labor Supreme Courts; Court of Audit; circuit courts or Tribunal Circuital (2 each in 9 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts Suffrage (who is allowed to vote): highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 magistrates and 9 alternates and divided into civil, criminal, administrative, and general business chambers) Name of THEIR Ambassador to the U.S.: Ambassador Mario Ernesto JARAMILLO Castillo (since 17 February 2011) Location of THEIR embassy in the U.S.: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 Location(s) of THEIR consulate(s) in the U.S. (just the name/s of city/ies is fine): 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 Name of U.S. Ambassador to THEM: Ambassador Jonathan D. FARRAR (since 15 May 2012) Location of U.S. embassy THERE: Edificio 783, Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas Panama, Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City Location(s) of U.S. consulate(s) THERE (just the name/s of city/ies is fine): N/A Name of THEIR representative to UN: N/A Description of the Symbolism of flag: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center; the blue and red colors are those of the main political parties (Conservatives and Liberals respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the red star signifies authority and law Video or audio of their national anthem being played: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzCpCZu5z_s National Symbol(s): harpy eagle Descriptions of International Disputes: organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama Quantity of refugees inside country AND country(ies) of origin of refugees: refugees (country of origin): 15,723 (Colombia) (2012) Quantity of Internally Displaced Persons: N/A Quantity of Stateless Persons: N/A Description of current human trafficking issues related to this country: N/A Description of Illicit Drug trafficking/use: major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center; negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major problem
President/Chief of State/Head of Government Ricardo Martinelli Berroca