Laurentino Cortizo Explained

Laurentino Cortizo
Order:38th
Office:President of Panama
Vicepresident:Jose Gabriel Carrizo
Term Start:1 July 2019
Term End:1 July 2024
Predecessor:Juan Carlos Varela
Successor:José Raúl Mulino
Office1:Minister of Agricultural Development
President1:Martín Torrijos
Term Start1:1 September 2004
Term End1:10 January 2006
Predecessor1:Lynette Stanziola
Successor1:Guillermo Salazar
Office2:38th President of the National Assembly
Term Start2:1 September 2000
Term End2:31 August 2001
Predecessor2:Enrique Garrido
Successor2:Rubén Arosemena
Birth Date:30 January 1953
Birth Place:Panama City, Panama
Alma Mater:Norwich University (B.B.A.)
St. Edwards University (M.B.A.)
University of Texas at Austin
Party:Solidarity Party (1983–2004)
Democratic Revolutionary Party (2004–present)
Spouse:Yazmín Colón de Cortizo
Children:2

Laurentino "Nito" Cortizo Cohen (pronounced as /es/; born 30 January 1953) is a Panamanian politician who served as the 38th President of Panama from 2019 to 2024. Previously, he served as President of the National Assembly (2000–2001)[1] and Minister of Agricultural and Livestock Development (2004–2006). Cortizo was a member of the National Assembly for Colón Province from 1994 to 2004.[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.

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.

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]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Book: Sáez . Manuel Alcántara . Freidenberg . Flavia . 2001 . Partidos políticos de América Latina. Centroamérica, México y República Dominicana . . 561 . 9788478008377.
  2. Web site: PALABRAS LLANAS - 50 años de visión y Compromiso (1906-2006) . 24 March 2019 . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174904/http://bdigital.binal.ac.pa/bdp/descarga.php?f=Palabras%20Llanas.pdf . live .
  3. News: Cortizo wins Panama election. 2019-05-06. 2019-05-06. en-GB. 17 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190517210927/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-48174497. live.
  4. Web site: La sangre ourensana de Panamá. Spanish. 9 September 2019. 10 August 2021. 10 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210810044904/https://www.laregion.es/articulo/o-carballinho/sangre-ourensana-panama/20190909234029892739.amp.html. live.
  5. News: Bermúdez Valdés . Julio . Laurentino Cortizo Cohen devuelve la confianza al sector agropecuario . 30 July 2022 . Panamá América . https://web.archive.org/web/20210519032301/https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/dia-d/laurentino-cortizo-cohen-devuelve-la-confianza-al-sector-agropecuario-155274 . 19 May 2021 . live. es.
  6. Web site: Hoja de Vida Laurentino Cortizo . https://web.archive.org/web/20231029035717/https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/4-HV-NITO-CORTIZO.pdf . Tribunal Electoral.gov.pa . 16 November 2023 . 29 October 2023 . live .
  7. Web site: Presidente de la República de Panamá . presidencia.gob.pa . 9 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220602063853/https://www.presidencia.gob.pa/Presidente . 2 June 2022 . es . live.
  8. Web site: Panama elections: Centrist Laurentino Cortizo declared winner. www.aljazeera.com. 2019-08-12. 12 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190812192121/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/panama-elections-centrist-laurentino-cortizo-declared-winner-190506053456564.html. live.
  9. Web site: Wingo anuncia a Carolina Cortizo como su nueva Directora General. 2021-11-30. www.wingo.com. 30 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211130233519/https://www.wingo.com/en/about-us/newsroom/2019/wingo-anuncia-a-carolina-cortizo-como-su-nueva-directora-general. live.
  10. Web site: Panama's president diagnosed with rare blood disorder. Reuters. 20 June 2022. 29 June 2022. 29 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629132930/https://www.reuters.com/world/panamas-president-says-diagnosed-with-rare-blood-disorder-2022-06-20/. live.
  11. Web site: Cortizo: sería irresponsable juzgar a la Presidenta Moscoso . 2022-08-09 . portal.critica.com.pa . 13 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230313195307/https://portal.critica.com.pa/archivo/09012000/nac4.html . live .