Manuel Solís Palma
| Manuel Solís Palma | |
|---|---|
| President of Panama Acting | |
|
In office 26 February 1988 – 1 September 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Eric Arturo Delvalle |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Rodríguez |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Manuel Solís Palma 3 December 1917 Los Santos, Panama |
| Died |
6 November 2009 (aged 91) Panama City, Panama |
| Political party | Democratic Revolutionary Party |
| Spouse(s) | Mariela Delvalle |
Manuel Solís Palma (3 December 1917 in Los Santos Province – 6 November 2009) was the acting president of Panama from 26 February 1988 to 1 September 1989, under the military rule of Manuel Noriega. He served as education minister in several administrations,[1] and worked on the 1968 presidential campaign of Arnulfo Arias Madrid.
In February 1988, Noriega promoted Solís from education minister to president after the firing of president Eric Arturo Delvalle.[1] The US administration of president Ronald Reagan refused to recognize Solís or the diplomats representing him as legitimate.[2] In May, the administration offered a deal in which Noriega would leave office in exchange for the US dropping drug charges against him; however, the Panamanian military rejected the terms, which gave no guarantee that Solís would retain power.[3] Solís served until 1 September 1989, shortly before the US invasion of Panama which deposed Noriega.[1] He was later described as one of a series of Noriega's puppet rulers, nicknamed the "Kleenex presidents" in Panama due to their "disposability".[4] In 1994, he was pardoned by President Guillermo Endara for any crimes committed during the Noriega years.[5]
In the administration of Martín Torrijos (2004–2009), Solís served again as education minister.[1]
He died on 6 November 2009 from pulmonary edema in Panama City.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Manuel Solis". The Washington Post. – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . 7 November 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ↑ "The tough is still in charge". The Economist. – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . 5 March 1988. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ↑ Michael Briggs (26 May 1988). "U.S. deal to get Noriega out of Panama scrapped". The Chicago Sun-Times. – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ↑ Robert C. Harding (2006). The History of Panama. Greenwood Press. p. 100. ISBN 031333322X.
- ↑ "Briefs". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. – via Questia (subscription required) . Reuters. 7 June 1994. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
External links
- Manuel Solís' obituary (Spanish)
| Preceded by Eric Arturo Delvalle |
President of Panama 1988–1989 |
Succeeded by Francisco Rodríguez |
