To date, it has been the party of four Panamian presidents: Nicolás Ardito Barletta Vallarino (1984–1985), Ernesto Pérez Balladares (1994–1999), Martin Torrijos (2004–2009) and Laurentino Cortizo (2019–2024).

To do so, he created the PRD as his political vehicle, and filed to run for president in the 1984 elections against the man he'd overthrown in 1968, Arnulfo Arias.

The political scenario changed drastically, and Noriega began to persecute politicians who opposed him, ruling the country by fear and terror.

Since democracy was restored in 1990, PRD politicians have restructured the party by increasing member participation and, for the first time, holding primaries to elect representatives for government positions.

The restructuring was led by Ernesto Perez Balladares, Francisco Sanchez, Mitchell Does, Tomas G. Duque, and Gerardo Gonzalez.

In 1991 part of this staff met Arias Calderon, then vice president of Panama, to make clear their interest in forming a political opposition and not a military.

In the 2004 general election, Martín Torrijos won the presidency with 47.4% of the vote, running as the candidate for the Patria Nueva ("New Fatherland") electoral alliance between the PRD and the smaller People's Party (PP).

Starting in late 2012 the PRD began the democratic process of renovating all of their internal political structures, from delegates to executive committee members.

In a fiery and passionate speech in March 2012, Juan Carlos Navarro called for all members to join him and his Ola Azul movement in forming a new PRD to ensure the party's victory in the 2014 elections.