PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama’s President Ricardo Martinelli, never known to be a good loser, swallowed an initial bitter reaction to the election of an archrival as his successor and offered his support on Monday for the coming transition.

Martinelli snapped “May God help us” as he learned the night before of Vice President Juan Carlos Varela’s surprise victory, saying he would shelve plans for a quiet retirement and would vigorously oppose his former ally’s rule.