Panama picks Mulino as Prez after Martinelli ban

José Raúl Mulino said he was practically retired from politics just over six months ago. Now, he'll be Panama's president for the next five years.

Standing before a pack of supporters Sunday night, Mulino said: “I never imagined this.” In a historic and tumultuous election, preliminary results put Mulino on top to lead the normally sleepy Central American nation through a moment of political tension, historic migration and a struggling economy.

The 64-year-old lawyer, whose last position in politics was as minister of security in then President Ricardo Martinelli's 2009-2014 administration, was initially tapped by the popular former leader to be his running mate after Martinelli's wife declined.

But then Martinelli was disqualified from running after he was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for a money laundering conviction. Mulino took his place, and ended up winning Sunday's presidential election with 35% of the vote and a nine-point lead over his nearest opponent after dodging constitutional challenges to his own candidacy.

The president-elect got there with strong support from Martinelli, arguably the most important tool in Mulino's campaign as he rode the fiery ex-leader's popularity to victory.

While he lacks Martinelli's charisma, the economic boom seen under his ally pushed many voters to support Mulino at a time that Panama's economy has lagged. The former president, who has been sheltering in the Nicaraguan Embassy since February, said his trust for Mulino dates back 30 years.