1978 Panamanian presidential election

1978 Panamanian presidential election

← 1972 October 11, 1978 (1978-10-11) 1984 →

Nominee Aristides Royo Party Independent Running mate Ricardo de la Espriella Popular vote 452 Percentage 97.2%

President before election Demetrio B. Lakas Independent Elected President Aristides Royo Independent

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Indirect presidential elections were held in Panama on 11 October 1978, electing a new President of the Republic.

In September 1978 Omar Torrijos announced that he would step down as Chief of Government when his six-year term expired in October but would remain Commander of the National Guard. On his recommendation, the National Assembly of Community Representatives elected Aristides Royo (a former minister of education and one of the Torrijos–Carter Treaties negotiators) president and Ricardo de la Espriella as Vice-President for a six-year term (1978–1984).^[1]