.mw-parser-output .hidden-begin{box-sizing:border-box;width:100%;padding:5px;border:none;font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .hidden-title{font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .hidden-content{text-align:left}You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Spanish. (October 2020) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the Spanish article. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Consider adding a topic to this template: there are already 5,202 articles in the main category, and specifying|topic= will aid in categorization. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Spanish Wikipedia article at [[:es:Laurentino Cortizo]]; see its history for attribution. You should also add the template ((Translated|es|Laurentino Cortizo)) to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.

His Excellency
Laurentino Cortizo
Cortizo in 2022
38th President of Panama
Assumed office
1 July 2019
Vice PresidentJose Gabriel Carrizo
Preceded byJuan Carlos Varela
Minister of Agricultural Development
In office
1 September 2004 – 10 January 2006
PresidentMartín Torrijos
Preceded byLynette Stanziola
Succeeded byGuillermo Salazar
President of the National Assembly
In office
1 September 2000 – 31 August 2001
Preceded byEnrique Garrido
Succeeded byRubén Arosemena
Personal details
Born (1953-01-30) 30 January 1953 (age 71)
Panama City, Panama
Political partyDemocratic Revolutionary Party
SpouseYazmín Colón de Cortizo
Children2
Alma materNorwich University (B.B.A.)
St. Edwards University (M.B.A.)
University of Texas at Austin

Laurentino "Nito" Cortizo Cohen (Spanish pronunciation: [lawɾenˈtino koɾˈtiso ˈko.en]; born 30 January 1953) is a Panamanian politician who has served as the President of Panama since 2019. Previously, he served as President of the National Assembly[1] and Minister of Agricultural and Livestock Development. Cortizo was also a member of the National Assembly between 1994 and 2004, serving a year as chamber president.[2]

A member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, he was elected as president in the 2019 general election, winning 33.27% of the vote.[3] He took office on 1 July 2019.

Early life and education

Laurentino Cortizo Cohen was born in Panama City to Laurentino Cortizo, a Galician from Beariz, Spain, and Esther Cohen, of Jewish descent.[4]

The eldest of six siblings, Cortizo attended Javier Elementary School and completed his secondary education at La Salle College in Diriamba, Nicaragua. He went on to attend the Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania. After this, he studied at Norwich University in Vermont, the oldest military college in the United States. Cortizo then attended St. Edwards University, earning a master's degree in business administration, and the University of Texas at Austin, where he did doctoral work.[5][6]

Early career

After graduation, Cortizo moved to Washington, D.C., in 1981 to work as a technical advisor to the secretary-general of the Organization of American States (OAS).[5]

In November 1986, Cortizo assumed the role of Panama's alternate ambassador to the OAS. During that time, he was a member of the budget committee and of the working group for the private sector. In addition, Cortizo chaired the working group for development problems of the states of the Central American isthmus and the permanent executive committee of the economic and social council.[7]

Political career

Cortizo served as a member of the National Assembly from 1994 to 2004 and is described as being from the centrist wing of his party.[8] He became President of the National Assembly in 2000, serving until 2001.[2]

He also served as Minister of Agricultural and Livestock Development under President Martín Torrijos, however he resigned in 2006 due to his objections to the negotiations made in pursuit of the US-Panama Free Trade Agreement.[8]

Personal life

Cortizo is married to Yazmín Colón de Cortizo. They have two children, Carolina and Jorge. Carolina is currently the director of Wingo that is part of Copa Airlines.[9]

In June 2022, Cortizo was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome.[10]

Cortizo is a devout Roman Catholic and often reads the Bible.[11]

References

  1. ^ Sáez, Manuel Alcántara; Freidenberg, Flavia, eds. (2001). Partidos políticos de América Latina. Centroamérica, México y República Dominicana. Universidad de Salamanca. p. 561. ISBN 9788478008377.
  2. ^ a b "PALABRAS LLANAS - 50 años de visión y Compromiso (1906-2006)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Cortizo wins Panama election". 6 May 2019. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  4. ^ "La sangre ourensana de Panamá" (in Spanish). 9 September 2019. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  5. ^ a b Bermúdez Valdés, Julio. "Laurentino Cortizo Cohen devuelve la confianza al sector agropecuario". Panamá América (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Hoja de Vida Laurentino Cortizo" (PDF). Tribunal Electoral.gov.pa. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Presidente de la República de Panamá". presidencia.gob.pa (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Panama elections: Centrist Laurentino Cortizo declared winner". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Wingo anuncia a Carolina Cortizo como su nueva Directora General". www.wingo.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Panama's president diagnosed with rare blood disorder". Reuters. 20 June 2022. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Cortizo: sería irresponsable juzgar a la Presidenta Moscoso". portal.critica.com.pa. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2022.

External links

Political offices Preceded byEnrique Garrido President of the National Assembly 2000–2001 Succeeded byRubén Arosemena Preceded byLynette Stanziola Minister of Agricultural Development 2004–2006 Succeeded byGuillermo Salazar Preceded byJuan Carlos Varela President of Panama 2019–present Incumbent Party political offices Preceded byJuan Carlos Navarro PRD nominee for President of Panama 2019 Most recent
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