BRIEFS: Politics
Turnout low for Unión Patriótica party primary
 1065586About 25 percent of the 94,000 Unión Patriótica (UP) members voted in the party's primary yesterday.
The turnout was low because the party does not have a presidential candidate, as UP leaders have thrown their support behind Cambio Democrático candidate Ricardo Martinelli. In exchange for that support, Martinelli has promised to name a UP party member as one of his vice presidents if he wins the presidency.
There were about 800 candidates competing for the party line in other races that will be contested in the 2009 national election. The primary will determine 13 mayoral candidates, 151 neighborhood candidates and 12 legislative candidates.
Martinelli made an appearance yesterday at the party's voting booths at Escuela Belisario Porras.
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