Martín Torrijos Begins UNE’s National Tour and Opens Registrations For His Political Party.
Unidos para una Nueva Era (UNE) is a Panamanian political party in formation founded and led by former President Martín Torrijos Espino. Torrijos launched the movement in May 2026 to build a new political platform ahead of Panama’s 2029 general elections. He stated that the organization aims to offer an alternative to traditional political parties, combat corruption, and unite independent citizens and disillusioned voters.
Torrijos led the launch of the national tour “Panama UNE” on Sunday November 15, with the opening of registrations for the political party, at an event held at the Marriott Panama Hotel in Albrook.
During the activity, Torrijos explained that the objective is to re-establish contact with supporters and activists to inform them about the organization process of the group and to move forward with the registration of new members. “We are resuming and explaining to UNE supporters and members the process we are in, where we can now register. We will continue to do so little by little, understanding the sensitivity of those who today suffer the misfortune of not having a home.”
The former president also expressed his solidarity with those affected by the earthquake and used his speech to question the response of the emergency authorities. Torrijos argued that the reconstruction of communities should not be limited to repairing homes, but should include improvements in basic services, infrastructure, and economic opportunities. In his opinion, the process should include projects related to water, electricity, roads, agriculture, tourism and entrepreneurship, as well as generating jobs and strengthening the development of the interior of the country and the regions.
During his speech, Torrijos questioned what he called years of idle and incapable governments, and pointed to problems related to employment, the cost of living, access to medicines, insecurity and transportation. He also criticized direct contracting and the lack of controls in the management of public resources. According to Torrijos, the accumulation of these problems has weakened public trust in institutions and politics.
Torrijos previously served as President of Panama from 2004 to 2009 under the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), a party founded by his father, General Omar Torrijos. He separated from the PRD prior to the 2024 general elections, in which he placed third, running as the candidate for the Popular Party citing that the PRD had strayed from its founding principles. On October 22, 2026, the Electoral Tribunal issued Resolution No. 29, officially recognizing UNE as a “political party in formation” and validating 1,248 founding signatures.
