---
title: "Three Vamos deputies break ranks in Panama’s Electoral Tribunal vote"
date: 2026-04-16
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/electoral-tribunal-vote-vamos-breaks-ranks/
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Politics"
tags:
  - "Alfredo Juncá"
  - "Electoral Tribunal"
  - "Jaime Barroso"
  - "Panama National Assembly"
  - "Panama politics"
  - "Vamos"
---

# Three Vamos deputies break ranks in Panama’s Electoral Tribunal vote

## What Happened

Three deputies from the Vamos bancada, Jorge Bloise, Manuel Samaniego and Neftalí Zamora, voted differently from the rest of their caucus in the selection of a new magistrate for Panama’s Electoral Tribunal.

Bloise, Samaniego and Zamora backed Jaime Barroso, the candidate supported by the governing bloc, while the majority of Vamos supported Alfredo Juncá’s reelection.

## Why the Vote Matters

The Electoral Tribunal is one of Panama’s most important democratic institutions because it oversees elections and the broader electoral system. Votes to choose its magistrates often draw close attention because the balance of support can reflect political alliances and internal discipline inside the National Assembly.

The split within Vamos highlights a moment of friction inside a political force that has positioned itself as an alternative to traditional party structures. When deputies cross an expected line on a high-profile vote, it can signal independent calculations, internal debate or shifting priorities within the bloc.

## Political Context

Juncá’s reelection was the option favored by most of the Vamos caucus, suggesting the group largely maintained a common position. The decision by three deputies to support Barroso instead placed them alongside the officialist-backed candidate and set them apart from their colleagues.

In Panama, Electoral Tribunal appointments carry weight well beyond a single vote because the institution plays a central role in organizing elections, resolving disputes and safeguarding the legitimacy of the process. For that reason, any visible break in legislative voting patterns tends to become part of the broader political conversation.

## What This Signals

The episode points to the continued importance of coalition discipline in the Assembly, especially on appointments tied to the country’s electoral framework. It also underscores how a single vote can reveal the internal diversity of a political bancada even when its public stance appears unified.

As the selection process moves forward, the vote will likely be viewed as an early indicator of how different legislative blocs may line up around major institutional decisions in the months ahead.