Panama government today... much like that of the United States: a democratic republic with a constitution. However Panama has not been without its political turmoil in the years prior to 1989.

It was in 1989 that the United States executed an invasion on Panama to remove de facto leader General Manual Noriega because of corruption and links with political assassinations and drug trafficking. It is also interesting that in 2007 the son of the famous dictator General Omar Torrijos is the current president: Martin Torrijos. Although we do not hear much of Panama in the news, in the political turmoil department it is reported that reforms under President Torrijos have been taking place.

In or to understand the government of Panama, it helps to understand the history of Panama. Since the birth of this country, the United States has been the one pulling the puppet strings in order to get the Panama Canal built and in order to maintain a presence both economically and militarily in this part of the world. As one can imagine, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and leaders like General Manual Noriega had close ties because the General met the only criterion required to be backed by the U.S. and he was not linked to communist countries.

All this changed when the U.S. turned over the Panama Canal to full Panamanian control on December 31, 1999. The U.S. also closed its military bases. Now it seems that Panama is more autonomous and can run its government independently. So, there are free elections and there have been recent reforms. Although political analysis is always subjective in nature, it is reported that there are crackdowns on corruption in the government and major initiatives and successes in controlling drug trafficking.

When Panama was a dictatorship up to 1989, the police forces were run by the military which were known as the Panama Defense Forces or PDF. This force was broken up by the U.S. invasion in 1989 and American police advisors were sent in to help build and install a civilian police force. However today, there is still some mistrust between the civilian population and their police force because of past history of military police corruption and domination.

Is there still corruption? In a short answer... yes. But I am a firm believer no more then exists in many countries. Some just have a better way of hiding it.

Hum... better at Hiding it you say... would that include any first world countries we know??

Yet it appears that improvements in the Panama government and law enforcement are getting better and it is a safe place for tourists. One of my favorite countries.