(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Panama City May 05 - Opposition leader Juan Carlos Varela has won the presidential election in Panama with almost 40% of the votes.
Varela who is currently the vice president had distanced himself from President Ricardo Martinelli.
The (BBC) reported that Varela has taken credit for Martinelli's economic success but has promised a cleaner more transparent government.
The president's preferred candidate the governing party contender Jose Domingo Arias came second.
President Martinelli had been an outspoken supporter of Arias 50 and his wife Marta Linares was the candidate's running mate.
In addition to picking a new president the country's 2.5 million eligible voters were electing dozens of mayors and members of Congress.
Varela 50 had a falling-out with President Martinelli after he was dismissed from his post as foreign minister in 2011.
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