Laurentino Cortizo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Laurentino Cortizo
Cortizo in 2022
38th President of Panama
In office 1 July 2019 – 1 July 2024
Vice President	Jose Gabriel Carrizo
Preceded by	Juan Carlos Varela
Succeeded by	José Raúl Mulino
Minister of Agricultural Development
In office 1 September 2004 – 10 January 2006
President	Martín Torrijos
Preceded by	Lynette Stanziola
Succeeded by	Guillermo Salazar
38th President of the National Assembly
In office 1 September 2000 – 31 August 2001
Preceded by	Enrique Garrido
Succeeded by	Rubén Arosemena
Personal details
Born	(1953-01-30) 30 January 1953 (age 72) Panama City, Panama
Political party	Solidarity Party (1983–2004) Democratic Revolutionary Party (2004–present)
Spouse	Yazmín Colón de Cortizo
Children	2
Alma mater	Norwich University (B.B.A.) St. Edwards University (M.B.A.) University of Texas at Austin

Laurentino "Nito" Cortizo Cohen was the President of Panama from 2019 to 2024. He is a politician from Panama, born on January 30, 1953. Before becoming president, he held important roles like leading the National Assembly and being the Minister of Agricultural and Livestock Development.

He belongs to the Democratic Revolutionary Party. People chose him as president in the 2019 election, and he started his term on July 1, 2019.

Early Life and Education

Laurentino Cortizo Cohen was born in Panama City. His father, Laurentino Cortizo, was from Spain, and his mother, Esther Cohen, had Jewish family roots.

Nito was the oldest of six children. He went to Javier Elementary School and then La Salle College in Nicaragua for high school.

College and Advanced Studies

After high school, Cortizo attended the Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Pennsylvania, USA. He then studied at Norwich University in Vermont, which is the oldest military college in the United States.

He continued his education at St. Edwards University, where he earned a master's degree in business. He also did advanced studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

Early Career Journey

After finishing his studies, Cortizo moved to Washington, D.C., in 1981. There, he worked as an advisor for the Organization of American States (OAS). The OAS is a group of countries in North and South America that work together.

In 1986, Cortizo became Panama's alternate ambassador to the OAS. During this time, he helped with the budget and worked on groups that focused on business and development issues for Central American countries.

Political Career Highlights

Cortizo was a member of Panama's National Assembly from 1994 to 2004. He was known for being a moderate member of his political party.

Leading the National Assembly

In 2000, he became the President of the National Assembly, a very important leadership role. He served in this position until 2001.

Minister of Agriculture

Later, he served as the Minister of Agricultural and Livestock Development under President Martín Torrijos. He resigned from this role in 2006. He disagreed with some parts of the trade agreement being discussed between the United States and Panama.

Personal Life and Family

Laurentino Cortizo is married to Yazmín Colón de Cortizo. They have two children, a daughter named Carolina and a son named Jorge. Their daughter, Carolina, works as a director for Wingo, an airline that is part of Copa Airlines.

Cortizo is a devoted Catholic and often reads the Bible. In June 2022, he was diagnosed with a health condition called myelodysplastic syndrome.

See also

In Spanish: Laurentino Cortizo para niños