National Assembly of Panama

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The National Assembly (Spanish: Asamblea Nacional), formerly the Legislative Assembly, is the legislative branch of the government of the Republic of Panama.

It is a unicameral legislature, currently made up of 78 members, who serve five-year terms. 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.

Panama's legislative elections are held in parallel to its presidential elections. The most recent were the 1999 election and the 2004 election.

(Panama also returns a delegation of 20 deputies to the supranational Central American Parliament.)

1 Latest election
2 Party strengths in the Assembly
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Latest election

Main article: Panamanian election, 2004

[discuss] – [edit]
**Summary of the 2 May 2004 **National Assembly of Panama** election results**
Parties	%	Seats
Democratic Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Democrático)	37.8	41
Arnulfista Party (Partido Arnulfista )	19.2	17
Solidarity Party (Partido Solidaridad)	15.7	9
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (Movimiento Liberal Republicano Nacionalista)	8.6	4
Democratic Change (Cambio Democrático)	7.4	3
People's Party (Partido Popular)	6.0	1
National Liberal Party (Partido Liberal Nacional)	5.2	3
Total (turnout 76.9 %)		78
Source: Source: Tribunal Electoral de Panama

[edit] Party strengths in the Assembly

The following table shows the composition of the Legislative Assembly at the start of the two most recent periods.

Party	1999	2004
Arnulfista Party (PA)	18	16
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD)	34	42
Christian Democratic Party (PDC)	5
Solidarity Party (PS)	4	9
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA)	3	4
National Liberal Party (PLN)	3	3
Democratic Change (CD)	2	3
Civic Renewal Party (PRC)	1
National Renovation Movement (MORENA)	1
People's Party (Panama)	1	1
disputed/undecided	1	0
Total	72	78