| Bernardino Gonzáles Ruíz | |
| Order: | Acting President of Panama |
| President: | Roberto Chiari |
| Term Start: | 17 March 1963 |
| Term End: | 23 March 1963 |
| Birth Date: | 11 January 1911 |
| Birth Place: | Las Tablas, Panama |
| Death Place: | Panama City, Panama |
Bernardino González Ruíz (11 January 1911[1] – 15 March 2012[2]) was a Panamanian politician and physician. He served as the President of Panama for six days from 17 to 23 March 1963.[3] [4] He was also the founder of the Democratic Action Party, a conservative Panamanian political party.
González Ruíz was born in the city of Las Tablas, Los Santos, Panama, on 11 January 1911.[3] [4]
González Ruíz, who was serving as Minister of State, served as acting President of Panama whilst President Roberto Chiari and Bernardino's brother Sergio, who was First Vice-President, were both out of the country. He was sworn into office on 17 March 1963, at 9:00 a.m.[3] The oath of office was administrated by Julio Mercado in the Yellow Room (Salón Amarillo) of the Palacio de las Garzas.[3] The ceremony was attended by members of the Panamanian cabinet and members of the legislature and the judiciary.[3] González appointed Ricardo E. Chiari as Foreign Minister and Don Nicanor Villalaz as the Minister of Labor, Social Welfare and Public Health.[3] His mandate as President lasted just six days and he left office on 23 March 1963.[3] [4]
González Ruíz served as Panama's Envoy to the United Kingdom.[4] He also served as the President of the National Assembly of Panama for Chiriquí Province and Los Santos Province.[4] Additionally, Gonzalez returned to the federal cabinet, holding the portfolio as Minister of Labor, Health and Welfare.[4] Later in life, Gonzalez became the honorary chairman of the Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement, a center-right political party.[3]
González Ruíz died on 15 March 2012, at the age of .[3] He had not suffered from any known illnesses at the time.[3] González Ruíz was the last surviving Panamanian President from the era prior to the 1968 military coup, which began a military dictatorship lasting from 1968 to 1989.[3]
The government of Panama declared three days of national mourning until 19 March 2012.[4] All flags were ordered to fly at half-mast for the three-day period.[4] González's funeral was held on 17 March 2012, at the Church of San Lucas at Colegio San Agustín in Costa del Este, Panama.[4] [5] His burial was held later in the day from the Iglesia de Santa Librada in Las Tablas, Los Santos.[5]