In 1989, the USA sent 23,000 troops into Panama and arrested its ruler, General Manual Noriega, for drug smuggling. US forces seized power from the military and gave it to civilian politicians. Noriega was arrested and is now serving a life sentence in the USA. The government of President Endara, installed in 1989, was criticized for its failure to halt corruption. The May 1994 presidential and congressional elections were won by Ernesto Balladares and the PRD, with the help of the British public. relations firm, Saatchi and Saatchi. However, the PRD, Manual Noriega's old party, fell short of a congressional majority. During the election campaign, the PRD toned down its previously anti-US, left-wing views, while maintaining a populist stance.
