Guillermo Endara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guillermo Endara
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| 32nd President of Panama | |
| In office December 20, 1989 – September 1, 1994 |
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| Vice President | Ricardo Arias Calderón (1989–1992) Guillermo Ford (1992–1994) |
| Preceded by | Manuel Noriega (as military leader) |
| Succeeded by | Ernesto Pérez Balladares (as President of Panama) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Guillermo David Endara Galimany
May 12, 1936 Panama City, Panama |
| Died | September 28, 2009 (aged 73) Panama City, Panama |
| Political party | Panameñista Party Moral Vanguard of the Fatherland |
| Spouses | Marcela Cambra Navarro (1961–1989) Ana Mae Díaz (1990–2009) |
| Children | Marcela Endara |
| Alma mater | University of Panama New York University |
Guillermo David Endara Galimany (born May 12, 1936 – died September 28, 2009) was a lawyer and politician. He served as the President of Panama from 1989 to 1994. His family was close to Arnulfo Arias, who founded the Panameñista Party. Endara studied in the United States and Argentina when Arias was removed from power. He later earned a law degree in Panama.
Endara became a strong opponent of the military government led by Manuel Noriega. He led the opposition in the 1989 presidential election. Even though international observers said he won, the government canceled the results. Endara and his team were attacked in public by a group called the Dignity Battalions. Pictures of these attacks were shown around the world. This helped build support in the U.S. for military action against Noriega. Seven months later, the United States invaded Panama. Endara became the new president on the first night of the invasion. He was sworn in at a U.S. military base.
During his time as president, Endara ended Panama's military. He replaced it with a national police force. Panama's economy grew steadily under his leadership. Democratic systems also returned. However, there were high rates of unemployment. His government also faced some internal disagreements. His popularity went down. Ernesto Pérez Balladares became president after him in 1994.
Endara ran for president again in 2004 and 2009 but did not win. He passed away from a heart attack in 2009. This was a few months after his last election campaign.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Guillermo Endara was born in 1936 in Panama City, Panama. His father, Guillermo Endara Paniza, was a supporter of Arnulfo Arias. Arias founded the Authentic Panameñista Party. When Arias was overthrown in 1941, Endara's family went into exile.
Endara attended school in Argentina. He also studied at the Black-Foxe Military Institute in Los Angeles, United States. He was known as a very smart student. Later, he went to the University of Panama Law School. He graduated at the top of his class. He also studied at New York University.
In 1963, he returned to Panama to work as a lawyer. He focused on labor law. He helped start a successful law firm. In 1964, he won his first public office. But he chose not to take it because of problems with the election.
Endara served two terms in the National Assembly. In 1968, he was a minister for planning and economic policy. This was during Arias's short third term as president. When Arias was overthrown again in October 1968, Endara went into hiding. He was briefly jailed in 1971. He then joined Arias in exile until 1977. Endara stayed involved in politics. After Arias died in 1988, Endara became a key leader against the government.
Becoming President of Panama
In the 1989 presidential election, Endara ran for president. He was the candidate for the Democratic Alliance of Civic Opposition (ADOC). This group was against the military ruler Manuel Noriega. His opponent was Carlos Duque, chosen by Noriega.
To prevent cheating, Endara's group counted the votes themselves. Their count showed Endara winning by a large margin. International observers, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, also confirmed Endara's victory. However, Noriega canceled the election results. He claimed there was "foreign interference."
The next day, Endara and his running mates, Ricardo Arias Calderón and Guillermo Ford, led a protest. They marched with a thousand supporters. They wanted their election victory to be recognized. A group supporting Noriega, the Dignity Battalions, attacked the protest. The three candidates were badly beaten. Endara was hit and needed stitches on his head. Pictures of these attacks were shown worldwide. They helped build support in the U.S. for military action against Noriega.
In December 1989, the U.S. military overthrew Noriega's government. This was during the U.S. invasion of Panama. Endara had sought safety at U.S. military bases. U.S. officials told him that if he did not become president, the U.S. would have to take over. Endara had been against U.S. military action during his campaign. But he accepted the presidency. He later said he had "no other choice." He was confirmed as the election winner. He was sworn in at Fort Clayton, a U.S. military base, on December 20, 1989.
Leading Panama (1989-1994)
Guillermo Endara was seen as someone who brought back democracy to Panama. He supported freedom of speech and democratic systems. He also reformed the Panamanian Defense Forces. He removed people loyal to Noriega. He made sure the civilian government was in charge. He changed the military into a national police force. In October 1994, the National Assembly voted to abolish the military. This made Panama the second country in Latin America to do so.
In early 1991, the ADOC group began to have problems. Endara, Arias, and Ford started criticizing each other publicly. Endara removed Arias from his cabinet in April 1991. Arias then resigned as vice president in December 1992. He said Endara's government "does not listen to the people." Endara said Arias's resignation was just for his next political campaign.
Panama's economy recovered well during Endara's presidency. The country saw an average economic growth of 8% each year. However, unemployment also increased to about 19%. In February 1990, Endara went on a hunger strike. He wanted to highlight poverty in the nation. He also wanted U.S. President George H. W. Bush to provide promised aid.
By May 1992, Endara's public approval rating had dropped. It went from 70% to only 10%. His administration faced some challenges. For example, his wife, Ana Mae Diaz, was accused of reselling donated food. In 1992, Diaz won $125,000 in the lottery. She decided to keep the money. This incident was seen by some as showing a lack of concern for Panama's poor.
Later Life and Campaigns
In 2004, Endara left the Arnulfista party. He disagreed with its leader, President Mireya Moscoso. He also accused the party of corruption. He ran in the 2004 presidential election. He was the candidate for the Solidarity Party. His main goals were to reduce crime and government corruption. His main opponent was Martín Torrijos. Torrijos was the son of former military leader Omar Torrijos. Endara finished second, getting 31% of the votes. Torrijos won with 47%.
Later, Endara started his own political party. It was called the Moral Vanguard of the Fatherland. In 2009, he ran for president again in the Panamanian general elections. Ricardo Martinelli won the election. Endara came in a distant third place, with 2% of the votes.
On September 28, 2009, Endara passed away at age 73. He died from a heart attack in his apartment in Panama City. He was preparing dinner at the time. He received a state funeral on September 30. President Martinelli and former presidents attended.
Personal Life
Endara married his first wife, Marcela, in 1961. They had one daughter, Marcelita. They also had three grandchildren. Marcela died of a heart attack in 1989. This happened while Endara was in the hospital after being attacked.
He married again on June 11, 1990. He was 54 years old. His new wife was Ana Mae Diaz Chen, a 22-year-old law student. She was of Chinese background. Endara was very happy in this marriage. The marriage was widely covered in the Panamanian news. Endara even got a new nickname, El Gordo Feliz, meaning "Happy Fatty."
See also
In Spanish: Guillermo Endara para niños
