Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino confirmed he threatened to set the country on fire if electoral authorities blocked his presidential candidacy last year. The president made the statement during a ceremony in Costa Rica on November 21, then defended his actions the following day against mounting criticism. Mulino argued he was fighting a powerful, entrenched system determined to invalidate his campaign.
His remarks referenced a pivotal 2024 conversation with magistrates of Panama’s Electoral Tribunal. The controversy erupted just hours after Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of Juan Mora Fernandez, that nation’s highest honor for a foreign dignitary. Political opponents and media figures in Panama immediately condemned the admission as an improper threat against the nation’s electoral authority.
President Recalls Confrontation with Electoral Officials
Speaking in San Jose, President Mulino recounted the tense exchange that secured his place on the ballot. He described a political environment where media sectors, important business leaders, and questionable Supreme Court rulings all aligned against him. The president stated he felt his candidacy was nearly derailed at the expense of democracy and the popular will.
“If you agree not to let me run, I will set this country on fire from all four corners,” Mulino recalled telling the magistrates. [Translated from Spanish]
He framed his blunt warning as a commitment to democratic principles. The president added that he told officials he would accept any outcome the people decided at the polls. Mulino ultimately won the May 2024 election and took office on July 1.
Mulino Fires Back at Critics from Costa Rica
Facing a backlash, the president posted a defiant response on his X social media account on Saturday, November 22. He accused his detractors of hypocrisy and opportunism. Mulino wrote that the same voices now expressing outrage are the ones who directly or indirectly worked to make his candidacy non-viable.
“I have thought a lot about this reaction. Those who are now tearing their clothes, writing editorials, and talking about threats to the Electoral Tribunal are the same people who did not want my candidacy to be viable. I had to defend it against a whole mounted and powerful system that still does not rest,” the president stated. [Translated from Spanish]
He specifically targeted media outlets and opinion leaders, suggesting they gained stature by opposing him. The president’s social media post did not walk back his description of the threat. It instead positioned his actions as a necessary defense against an unfair political establishment. The Electoral Tribunal of Panama has not issued any public comment regarding the president’s claims.
Legal and Political Context of the 2024 Campaign
Mulino’s candidacy faced legal uncertainty because he replaced former President Ricardo Martinelli as the alliance’s candidate. Martinelli received a money laundering conviction and lost his appeal, making him ineligible to run. The Supreme Court of Justice of Panama ultimately upheld Mulino’s candidacy in a ruling that allowed the election to proceed.
His recent comments in costa rica have ignited a fresh debate about the separation of powers and the pressure placed on independent institutions. The incident occurred during his first official state visit to a neighboring country, highlighting regional diplomatic ties. The President of Costa Rica, rodrigo chaves, hosted the event that unexpectedly turned into a platform for Mulino’s domestic political revelations.
This episode reveals the lingering political tensions from Panama’s last electoral process. It also shows a president willing to confront institutions he views as hostile. The fallout continues to develop as Panamanians assess their leader’s unconventional admission.