(2 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Panama City, Panama - 01 July 2024
1. José Raúl Mulino arriving at his swearing-in ceremony as president of Panama
2. Swearing-in ceremony
3. Mulino taking oath as president
4. Lawmakers listening to speech
5. Mulino receiving presidential sash
6. Mulino waving during ceremony. UPSOUND (Spanish) Attendee shouts, "Mulino, I love you." Mulino replies: "I love you too."
7. Official giving speech
8. Mulino approaching podium
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) José Raúl Mulino, president of Panama:
"I won’t allow Panama to be an open path for thousands of people who enter our country illegally, supported by an international organization related to drug trafficking and human trafficking."
10. Pan Left-right: King Felipe VI of Spain, President of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinader, President of Colombia Gustavo Petro, and Prime Minister of Belize Johnny Briceño
11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) José Raúl Mulino, president of Panama:
"We (the 2009-2014 administration) positioned the country and the economy at the forefront of the Americas. I am proud to have been part of an administration that made us dream big and that was led by my friend, President Ricardo Martinelli, for the benefit of the people."
12. Lawmakers applauding as they listen to Mulino’s speech
13. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) José Raúl Mulino, president of Panama:
"Regarding the Mossack Fonseca (or Panama Papers money laundering) case, which was the beginning of the end of our financial business model, all the defendants have just been acquitted because it was actually an international hoax to undermine the image and competitiveness of our country."
14. Various of Mulino and First Lady Maricel Cohen posing with foreign dignitaries
15. Bodyguards
16. Mulino and Cohen shaking hands with foreign dignitaries
STORYLINE:
José Raúl Mulino was sworn in on Monday as Panama’s next president.
The new leader faces pressure to slow irregular migration through the Darien Gap that connects Panama with Colombia.
The 65-year-old former security minister has promised to shut down migration through the jungle-clad and largely lawless border.
"I won’t allow Panama to be an open path for thousands of people who enter our country illegally, supported by an international organization related to drug trafficking and human trafficking," Mulino said after he was sworn in.
More than half a million people crossed the corridor last year and more than 190,000 people have already crossed in 2024.
Most of them hailed from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and China.
Shortly after Mulino’s inauguration, Panama said in a statement that the U.S. had committed Monday to covering the cost of repatriation of migrants who enter illegally through the Darien.
Mulino won the election in May in a crowded field with more than 30% of the vote.
He replaced former President Ricardo Martinelli as candidate after the former leader was banned from running after being sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering.
In addition to migration, Mulino will have to manage one of the world’s key trade routes, the Panama Canal, which was forced to limit traffic this year by persistent drought.
Mulino also criticized the outgoing administration of President Laurentino Cortizo for leaving him a limping economy and high levels of public debt.
AP Video shot by Abraham Terán
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