Panama's Cobre Panama mine polls show split public opinion on reopening

Two recent opinion surveys in Panama present contrasting views on the possible reopening of the Cobre Panama copper mine. A Doxa poll for Arca Media found 50% of respondents favor reopening while 66.4% oppose it, with 68.7% supporting a referendum to decide the mine’s future. The same poll showed 68% believe the mine creates jobs, 57% are aware of the project and 63% view it as beneficial for the country.

A later Doxa poll for Arca Media reported a more optimistic outlook: 79% of Panamanians expect the government will reopen the mine, 52% anticipate better household economics within a year, and 45% say employment should be the top government priority. The poll also indicated 57% think Panama is on the right track, 60% approve President José Raúl Mulino’s performance, and 69% believe the country will be better in a year. The closure of Cobre Panama affected roughly 7,000 direct workers and around 40,000 indirect jobs, underscoring the economic weight of the debate.