![President José Raúl Mulino (L) waves next to National Assembly President Dana Castañeda at his inauguration in Panama City on July 1.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mulino-Inauguration-300x200.jpg)
Panama’s New President Signals an Ambitious Agenda
José Raúl Mulino promises to close the Darién Gap to migration while pushing a major dam to shore up the Panama Canal.
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The Darien Gap’s Fearsome Reputation Has Been Centuries in the Making
Before it became a migration hotspot, the area attracted visions for colonization and connection. So far, all have failed.