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List of heads of state of Panama facts for kids

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President of the Republic of Panama
Coat of arms of Panama.svg
Coat of arms of Panama
Presidential Flag of Panama.svg
Presidential standard
Ceremonia de transmisión de mando de Panama (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
José Raúl Mulino

since 1 July 2024
Residence Palacio de las Garzas, Panama City
Term length Five years, renewable once non-consecutively
Precursor Laurentino Cortizo
Inaugural holder Manuel Amador Guerrero
Formation 20 February 1904
Deputy Vice President of Panama
Salary 7,000 USD per month
Website Presidencia de la República

This article tells you about the heads of state of Panama. These are the leaders who have guided Panama since it first tried to become independent from Republic of New Granada in 1840. It also covers leaders after Panama fully separated from Colombia in 1903. Since 1904, the main leader of Panama has been called the President.

Understanding Panama's Leaders

Panama has had many different leaders throughout its history. This section helps you understand the different groups or parties they belonged to.

     Conservative Party (PC)     National Liberal Party (PLN)     Independent      National Revolutionary Party (PNR)→Panameñista Party (PP)      Authentic Revolutionary Party (PPA)      National Patriotic Coalition (CPN)     Military (National Guard) and (Panama Defense Forces)      Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD)      Republican Party (PR)     Democratic Change (CD)      Realizing Goals (RM)      Denotes acting or provisional president

Important Symbols

  • A symbol next to a name means the person passed away while in office.

Leaders of the Free State of the Isthmus (1840–1841)

Panama was briefly independent as the "Free State of the Isthmus" before joining New Granada again.

No. Portrait President
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Title
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Herrtoma
Tomás de Herrera, a leader of Panama's early independence efforts.
Tomás de Herrera
(1804–1854)
20 March 1841 8 June 1841 80 days Superior Chief of State
(1) 8 June 1841 31 December 1841 206 days President

Presidents of the Republic of Panama (1903–present)

Panama became fully independent in 1903. Since then, it has been led by Presidents.

Provisional Leaders (1903–1904)

Right after independence, a group of leaders temporarily governed Panama.

President of the Municipal Council of Panama and de facto President (1903)
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political Party
Took office Left office Time in office
3
Demetrio H. Brid
Demetrio H. Brid, an early leader of independent Panama.
Demetrio H. Brid
(1859–1917)
3 November 1903 4 November 1903 1 day PC
Members of the Provisional Government Junta (1903–1904)
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political Party
Took office Left office Time in office
4
Jose-Agustin-Arango
José Agustín Arango, a member of the first provisional government.
José Agustín Arango
(1841–1909)
4 November 1903 20 February 1904 108 days PLN
5
Tomás Arias p319
Tomás Arias, who helped lead Panama after independence.
Tomás Arias
(1856–1932)
Independent
6
FBoyd4
Federico Boyd, a key figure in Panama's early days.
Federico Boyd
(1851–1924)
PLN
7
Manuel Espinosa Batista, prócer de Panamá
Manuel Espinosa Batista, another early leader of Panama.
Manuel Espinosa Batista
(1857–1919)
9 November 1903 7 December 1903 28 days PLN

Presidents of Panama (1904–present)

This is a list of all the official Presidents of Panama since 1904.

No. Portrait President
(Birth–Death)
Elected Term of office Political Party
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Portrait of Manuel Amador Guerrero
Manuel Amador Guerrero, Panama's first president.
Manuel Amador Guerrero
(1833–1909)
First tenure
1904 20 February 1904 23 June 1907 3 years, 123 days PC
2
Jose Domingo de Obaldía
José Domingo de Obaldía.
José Domingo de Obaldía
(1845–1910)
First tenure
24 June 1907 27 December 1907 186 days PLN
(1)
Portrait of Manuel Amador Guerrero
Manuel Amador Guerrero.
Manuel Amador Guerrero
(1833–1909)
Second tenure
29 December 1907 1 October 1908 277 days PC
(2)
Jose Domingo de Obaldía
José Domingo de Obaldía.
José Domingo de Obaldía
(1845–1910)
Second tenure
1908 1 October 1908 1 March 1910 1 year, 151 days PLN
Carlos Antonio Mendoza
Carlos Antonio Mendoza.
Carlos Antonio Mendoza
(1856–1916)
Acting President
1 March 1910 1 October 1910 214 days PLN
FBoyd4
Federico Boyd.
Federico Boyd
(1851–1924)
Acting President
1 October 1910 5 October 1910 4 days PLN
Pabloarosemena
Pablo Arosemena.
Pablo Arosemena
(1836–1920)
Acting President
5 October 1910 1 October 1912 1 year, 362 days PLN
3
Belisario Porras Barahona
Belisario Porras Barahona.
Belisario Porras Barahona
(1856–1942)
First tenure
1912 1 October 1912 1 October 1916 4 years PLN
4
RMvaldes7
Ramón Maximiliano Valdés.
Ramón Maximiliano Valdés
(1867–1918)
1916 1 October 1916 3 June 1918 1 year, 245 days PLN
8CiroU
Ciro Luis Urriola.
Ciro Luis Urriola
(1863–1922)
Acting President
3 June 1918 1 October 1918 120 days PLN
Pedro Antonio Díaz
Pedro Antonio Díaz.
Pedro Antonio Díaz
(1852–1919)
Acting President
1 October 1918 12 October 1918 11 days PC
(3)
Belisario Porras Barahona
Belisario Porras Barahona.
Belisario Porras Barahona
(1856–1942)
Second tenure
1918 12 October 1918 30 January 1920 1 year, 110 days PLN
Ernesto Tisdel Lefevre
Ernesto Tisdel Lefevre.
Ernesto Tisdel Lefevre
(1876–1922)
Acting President
30 January 1920 1 October 1920 245 days PLN
(3)
Belisario Porras Barahona
Belisario Porras Barahona.
Belisario Porras Barahona
(1856–1942)
Third tenure
1920 1 October 1920 1 October 1924 4 years PLN
5
Rodolfo Chiari
Rodolfo Chiari.
Rodolfo Chiari
(1869–1937)
1924 1 October 1924 1 October 1928 4 years PLN
6
El Ingeniero Don Florencio Harmodio Arosemena
Florencio Harmodio Arosemena.
Florencio Harmodio Arosemena
(1872–1945)
1928 1 October 1928 3 January 1931
(Removed from office)
2 years, 94 days PLN
Harmodio Arias Madrid
Harmodio Arias Madrid.
Harmodio Arias Madrid
(1886–1963)
Acting President
3 January 1931 16 January 1931 13 days Independent
7
Ricardo J. Alfaro
Ricardo Joaquín Alfaro Jované.
Ricardo Joaquín Alfaro Jované
(1882–1971)
16 January 1931 5 June 1932 1 year, 141 days PLN
8
Harmodio Arias Madrid
Harmodio Arias Madrid.
Harmodio Arias Madrid
(1886–1963)
1932 5 June 1932 1 October 1936 4 years, 118 days PNR
9
Juan Demóstenes Arosemena
Juan Demóstenes Arosemena.
Juan Demóstenes Arosemena
(1879–1939)
1936 1 October 1936 16 December 1939 3 years, 76 days PLN
Ezequiel Fernández Jaén
Ezequiel Fernández.
Ezequiel Fernández
(1886–1946)
Acting President
16 December 1939 18 December 1939 2 days PNR
Augusto Samuel Boyd
Augusto Samuel Boyd.
Augusto Samuel Boyd
(1879–1957)
Acting President
18 December 1939 1 October 1940 288 days PNR
10
Arnulfo Arias Madrid - 1950
Arnulfo Arias.
Arnulfo Arias
(1901–1988)
First tenure
1940 1 October 1940 9 October 1941
(Removed from office)
1 year, 8 days PNR
11
Ricardo Adolfo de la Guardia
Ricardo Adolfo de la Guardia Arango.
Ricardo Adolfo de la Guardia Arango
(1899–1969)
9 October 1941 15 June 1945 3 years, 249 days Independent
Dres. Jurado, Jiménez y Alfaro (cropped)
Enrique Adolfo Jiménez.
Enrique Adolfo Jiménez
(1888–1970)
Provisional president
1945 15 June 1945 7 August 1948 3 years, 53 days PLN
12
Domingo Díaz Arosemena
Domingo Díaz Arosemena.
Domingo Díaz Arosemena
(1875–1949)
1948 7 August 1948 28 July 1949
(Stepped down)
355 days PLN
13
No image
Daniel Chanis Pinzón.
Daniel Chanis Pinzón
(1892–1961)
28 July 1949 20 November 1949 115 days PLN
14
Roberto F. Chiari
Roberto Francisco Chiari Remón.
Roberto Francisco Chiari Remón
(1905–1981)
First tenure
20 November 1949 24 November 1949 4 days PLN
(10)
Arnulfo Arias Madrid - 1950
Arnulfo Arias.
Arnulfo Arias
(1901–1988)
Second tenure
24 November 1949 9 May 1951 1 year, 166 days PP
15
No image
Alcibíades Arosemena.
Alcibíades Arosemena
(1883–1958)
9 May 1951 1 October 1952 1 year, 145 days PPA
16
Estatua de José Antonio Remón Cantera - Sede de la Policía Nacional de Panamá (2012)
José Antonio Remón Cantera.
José Antonio Remón Cantera
(1908–1955)
1952 1 October 1952 2 January 1955
(Passed away)
2 years, 93 days CPN
17
No image
José Ramón Guizado.
José Ramón Guizado
(1899–1964)
2 January 1955 29 March 1955 86 days CPN
18
Ricardo Arias Espinosa
Ricardo Arias.
Ricardo Arias
(1912–1993)
29 March 1955 1 October 1956 1 year, 186 days CPN
19
No image
Ernesto de la Guardia.
Ernesto de la Guardia
(1904–1983)
1956 1 October 1956 1 October 1960 4 years CPN
(14)
Roberto F. Chiari 1962
Roberto Francisco Chiari Remón.
Roberto Francisco Chiari Remón
(1905–1981)
Second tenure
1960 1 October 1960 17 March 1963 2 years, 167 days PLN
No image
Bernardino González Ruiz.
Bernardino González Ruiz
(1911–2012)
Acting President
17 March 1963 23 March 1963 6 days PAD
(14)
Roberto F. Chiari 1962
Roberto Francisco Chiari Remón.
Roberto Francisco Chiari Remón
(1905–1981)
Third tenure
23 March 1963 1 October 1964 1 year, 192 days PLN
20
No image
Marco Aurelio Robles.
Marco Aurelio Robles
(1908–1990)
1964 1 October 1964 1 October 1968 4 years PLN
(10)
A. Arias President of Panama (cropped)
Arnulfo Arias.
Arnulfo Arias
(1901–1988)
Third tenure
1968 1 October 1968 11 October 1968
(Removed from office)
10 days PP
No image
José María Pinilla Fábrega.
José María Pinilla Fábrega
(1919–1979)
Chairman of the Provisional Junta
Ruled jointly with Bolívar Urrutia Parrilla
12 October 1968 18 December 1969 1 year, 67 days National Guard
21
No image
Bolívar Urrutia Parrilla.
Colonel
Bolívar Urrutia Parrilla
(1918–2005)
Ruled jointly with José María Pinilla Fábrega
12 October 1968 18 December 1969 1 year, 67 days National Guard
President Demetrio Lakas (cropped)
Demetrio B. Lakas.
Demetrio B. Lakas
(1925–1999)
Chairman of the Provisional
Junta from 1969 to 1972
19 December 1969 11 October 1972 2 years, 297 days Independent
22 1972 11 October 1972 11 October 1978 6 years
23
Aristides Royo (6713987733) (cropped)
Aristides Royo.
Aristides Royo
(born 1940)
1978 11 October 1978 31 July 1982 3 years, 293 days Independent
(until March 1979)
PRD
24
De-la-espriella-crop
Ricardo de la Espriella.
Ricardo de la Espriella
(born 1934)
31 July 1982 13 February 1984 1 year, 197 days PRD
25
Jorge Enrique Illueca Sibauste, presidente de Panamá
Jorge Illueca.
Jorge Illueca
(1918–2012)
13 February 1984 11 October 1984 241 days Independent
26
Nicolás Ardito Barletta Vallarino
Nicolás Ardito Barletta Vallarino.
Nicolás Ardito Barletta Vallarino
(born 1938)
1984 11 October 1984 28 September 1985 352 days PRD
Eric Arturo Delvalle
Eric Arturo Delvalle.
Eric Arturo Delvalle
(1937–2015)
Acting President
28 September 1985 26 February 1988 2 years, 151 days PR
No image
Manuel Solís Palma.
Manuel Solís Palma
(1917–2009)
Acting President
26 February 1988 1 September 1989 1 year, 187 days PRD
No image
Francisco Rodríguez.
Francisco Rodríguez
(born 1938)
Provisional president
1 September 1989 20 December 1989
(Removed from office)
110 days PRD
27
Guillermo Endara 1993
Guillermo Endara.
Guillermo Endara
(1936–2009)
1989 20 December 1989 1 September 1994 4 years, 255 days PP
28
Mr. Ernesto Perez Balladares (cropped)
Ernesto Pérez Balladares.
Ernesto Pérez Balladares
(born 1946)
1994 1 September 1994 1 September 1999 5 years PRD
29
Mireya Moscoso in 2012
Mireya Moscoso.
Mireya Moscoso
(born 1946)
1999 1 September 1999 1 September 2004 5 years PP
30
Panama.MartinTorrijos.01
Martín Torrijos.
Martín Torrijos
(born 1963)
2004 1 September 2004 1 July 2009 4 years, 303 days PRD
31
Ricardo Martinelli Presidente de Panamá
Ricardo Martinelli.
Ricardo Martinelli
(born 1952)
2009 1 July 2009 1 July 2014 5 years CD
32
Juan Carlos Varela (2014)
Juan Carlos Varela.
Juan Carlos Varela
(born 1963)
2014 1 July 2014 1 July 2019 5 years PP
33
Laurentino Cortizo at the Enthronement of Naruhito (1)
Laurentino Cortizo.
Laurentino Cortizo
(born 1953)
2019 1 July 2019 1 July 2024 5 years PRD
34
Ceremonia de transmisión de mando de Panama (cropped)
José Raúl Mulino.
José Raúl Mulino
(born 1959)
2024 1 July 2024 Incumbent 353 days RM

Military Leaders of Panama (1968–1989)

From 1968 to 1989, military leaders held the real power in Panama. They chose who would be president, but those presidents had very little actual authority. Here are the military leaders who were in charge during that time.

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Military affiliation Notes
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Omar Torrijos 1977
Brigadier-General Omar Torrijos.
Brigadier-General
Omar Torrijos
(1929–1981)
11 October 1968 31 July 1981 12 years, 293 days National Guard Became leader after a change in government in 1968.
Called Maximum Leader of the Panamanian Revolution from 1968.
Passed away in an air accident.
2
No image
Colonel Rubén Darío Paredes.
Colonel
Rubén Darío Paredes
(born 1933)
3 March 1982 12 August 1983 1 year, 162 days National Guard
3
Manuel Noriega mugshot cropped
General Manuel Noriega.
General
Manuel Noriega
(1934–2017)
12 August 1983 20 December 1989 6 years, 130 days National Guard Called Maximum Leader of the National Liberation from 1989.
Removed from power during a US military action.
Panama Defense Forces
(from 29 September 1983.)

Timeline of Panama's Presidents

This timeline shows when each president or leader was in power. It helps you see the order of leadership in Panama's history.

José Raúl Mulino Laurentino Cortizo Juan Carlos Varela Ricardo Martinelli Martín Torrijos Mireya Moscoso Ernesto Pérez Balladares Guillermo Endara Francisco Rodríguez Manuel Solís Palma Eric Arturo Delvalle Nicolás Ardito Barletta Vallarino Jorge Illueca Manuel Noriega Ricardo de la Espriella Rubén Darío Paredes Aristides Royo Demetrio B. Lakas Omar Torrijos Bolívar Urrutia Parrilla José María Pinilla Fábrega Marco Aurelio Robles Bernardino González Ruiz Ernesto de la Guardia Ricardo Arias José Ramón Guizado José Antonio Remón Cantera Alcibíades Arosemena Roberto Francisco Chiari Remón Daniel Chanis Pinzón Domingo Díaz Arosemena Enrique Adolfo Jiménez Ricardo Adolfo de la Guardia Arango Arnulfo Arias Augusto Samuel Boyd Ezequiel Fernández Juan Demóstenes Arosemena Ricardo Joaquín Alfaro Jované Harmodio Arias Madrid Florencio Harmodio Arosemena Rodolfo Chiari Ernesto Tisdel Lefevre Pedro Antonio Díaz Ciro Luis Urriola Ramón Maximiliano Valdés Belisario Porras Barahona Pablo Arosemena Carlos Antonio Mendoza José Domingo de Obaldía Manuel Amador Guerrero Manuel Espinosa Batista Federico Boyd Tomás Arias José Agustín Arango Demetrio H. Brid

Latest Presidential Election

Want to know how the current president was chosen? You can find more details about the most recent election here.

Candidate Party Votes %
Realizing Goals–Alliance Realizing Goals 668,527 29.39
Alliance Party 110,245 4.85
Total 778,772 34.23
Another Way Movement 559,432 24.59
People's Party 364,576 16.03
For a Better Panama Democratic Change 138,274 6.08
Panameñista Party 120,544 5.30
Total 258,818 11.38
Independent 150,338 6.61
Vamos con todo Panama Democratic Revolutionary Party 126,454 5.56
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement 7,337 0.32
Total 133,791 5.88
Independent 24,531 1.08
Independent PAIS 2,442 0.11
Independent 2,218 0.10
Total 4,660 0.20
Total 2,274,918 100.00
Valid votes 2,274,918 97.53
Invalid votes 38,544 1.65
Blank votes 19,101 0.82
Total votes 2,332,563 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 3,004,083 77.65
Source: Tribunal Electoral

See Also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de Panamá para niños

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List of heads of state of Panama Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.