Manuel Solís Palma
| Manuel Solís Palma | |
|---|---|
| President of Panama Acting | |
|
In office February 26, 1988 – September 1, 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Eric Arturo Delvalle |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Rodríguez |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Manuel Solís Palma December 3, 1917 Los Santos, Panama |
| Died |
November 6, 2009 (aged 91) Panama City, Panama |
| Political party | Democratic Revolutionary Party |
| Spouse(s) | Thelma Hassan |
Manuel Solís Palma (December 3, 1917 in Los Santos Province – November 6, 2009) was the acting president of Panama from February 26, 1988 to September 1, 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 September 1, 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 November 6, 2009 from pulmonary edema in Panama City.[1][6]
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.
- ↑ https://m.prensa.com/locales/Fallecio-Manuel-Solis-Palma_0_2697480378.html
External links
- Manuel Solís' obituary (in Spanish)
| Preceded by Eric Arturo Delvalle |
President of Panama 1988–1989 |
Succeeded by Francisco Rodríguez |
