171 elected officials have jumped ship

Whether you describe it as jumping ship, climbing on the bandwagon or political opportunism, 171 Panamanians elected to political office by their constituents have changed their party since 2009.

An investigation La Prensa showed that 160 of them moved to the ruling party, Democratic Change (CD).
Eighty were from the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), 53 were Panamanistas 25 were added after the merger with the Patriotic Union, and 2 were from the Partido Popular.
Mayors and representatives of the opposition parties, who say their counterparts who joined the ranks of the euling party receive more benefits through Social Assistance Programs, Community Development and Social Development.