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.[citation needed]
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 | Thelma Hassan |
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 advisor to the education minister.[1]
He died on 6 November 2009, aged 91, from pulmonary edema in Panama City.[1][6]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Manuel Solis". The Washington Post. 7 November 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ "The tough is still in charge". The Economist. 5 March 1988. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ Michael Briggs (26 May 1988). "U.S. deal to get Noriega out of Panama scrapped". The Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ Robert C. Harding (2006). The History of Panama. Greenwood Press. p. 100. ISBN 031333322X.
- ^ "Briefs". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Reuters. 7 June 1994. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018.
- ^ "Falleció Manuel Solís Palma". La Prensa (in Spanish). 6 November 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
External links
edit- Manuel Solís' obituary (in Spanish)
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