Former  two-term Panama Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro has pulled out of the race to become the PRD presidential  candidate for a second time and will instead back former president  “El Toro”  Perez Balladares

According to Balladares the two have a long-standing friendship and when Navarro ran for Mayor he had his full support.

Perez Balladares said on Wednesday, August 22   that it seemed to Navarro that it was better to "get together, and I have offered him the role, as vice president, which I hope will be accepted." He added that the unity of the party is fundamental.

Navarro was the PRD presidential campaign in 2014 when he ran a lackluster campaign and was accused by some of holding meetings with then-President Ricardo Martinelli with whom he allegedly had business deals.