Former Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso issued a stark warning about her political organization on Sunday, November 23. She declared the Panameñista Party is experiencing its worst crisis and is effectively dead under its current leadership.
Moscoso spoke just before a critical National Extraordinary Convention where members were set to vote on new party leadership. Her comments directly challenged the direction of current party head José Isabel Blandón. She called for an urgent and total transformation to save the historic political group from irrelevance.
A Call for Doctrinal Revival
The former president argued the party’s salvation lies in a return to its foundational principles. She emphasized the unique ideological legacy established by its founder, the late three-time president Arnulfo Arias. Moscoso expressed deep frustration that this doctrine has been abandoned by the current administration.
Our party is the only one that has a doctrine, but they threw it in a water tank years ago. [Translated from Spanish]
She lamented the severe erosion of trust in the Panameñista Party. This loss of credibility extends beyond the general public and has infected its own membership base. Nobody believes in this party, not even the Panameñistas themselves, Moscoso stated bluntly.
Mass Exodus of Party Members
A primary concern for the former leader is the dramatic decline in registered adherents. Internal party bodies have reported the loss of approximately 100,000 members in the last year alone. This figure highlights the profound organizational decay occurring within its structure.
Moscoso shared personal anguish over the constant stream of resignations. It pains me when people write to me saying they resigned today, she said. They do not believe in the authorities, they do not listen to them. The party took a different path. [Translated from Spanish] This mass departure signals a catastrophic failure of the current leadership to inspire and retain its core supporters.
Electoral Performance Hits Rock Bottom
The former president also pointed to the party’s dismal performance in the May 2024 general elections as proof of its decline. She contrasted the recent results with the mireya moscoso era of political success. The party cannot seek what just happened an election with four percent, Moscoso stated.
She recalled the party’s historical performance under Arnulfo Arias, which she acknowledged was sometimes low. Her own presidential victory, however, secured a commanding 44 percent of the vote. A similar level of support was seen during the administration of her successor, Juan Carlos Varela. The collapse to single digits represents a stunning reversal of fortune for a party that once governed the nation.
Defining a Role in Opposition
When questioned about the party’s function relative to the current government, Moscoso advocated for a pragmatic approach. She suggested the party’s priority should be the country’s welfare rather than reflexive confrontation. If the Government does well, we all win, she clarified.
She insisted the party must support good initiatives regardless of their origin. The important thing is to work for a better Panama, she said, especially for the rural farmers who remain forgotten. [Translated from Spanish] This stance suggests a vision of the party as a constructive, rather than obstructive, political force focused on national interests over partisan battles. The internal struggle for the soul of the Panameñista Party now hinges on whether members heed this call for change.