Balbina Herrera
Encyclopedia
Balbina Del Carmen Herrera Araúz is a Panama
nian politician and presidential candidate in the Panamanian general election, 2009
. On May 3, 2009, she lost the race to the presidency of the Republic of Panama to center-right candidate Ricardo Martinelli
.
She started her political Career as Member of the Panamanian Student Federation and joined the Partido Revolucionario Democrático in 1979, the largest political party in Panama.
She was a close collaborator of Manuel Antonio Noriega during his rule in the 1980s. She was involved in the leadership of the Dignity Battalions
, Noriega's regime militias and para-military squads.
She has served as Mayor of San Miguelito, Legislator, President of the National Assembly and Minister of Housing in the Cabinet of President Martin Torrijos
. She was the Democratic Revolutionary Party
(PRD) candidate for President of Panama in the election
, held on May 3, 2009. She won her party's primary on September 7, 2008 with 49% of the vote, defeating Panama City
Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro
. If elected, she would have become Panama's second female president. However, Herrera lost to Ricardo Martinelli, the candidate of the opposition coalition's led by his "Democratic Change" party.
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
nian politician and presidential candidate in the Panamanian general election, 2009
Panamanian general election, 2009
Presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Panama on May 3, 2009.The government-supported presidential candidate and member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party was the former Housing Minister Balbina Herrera. The Liberal Party and the People's Party were in alliance with the PRD, in...
. On May 3, 2009, she lost the race to the presidency of the Republic of Panama to center-right candidate Ricardo Martinelli
Ricardo Martinelli
Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal is a Panamanian politician and businessman who was elected the 49th President of Panama in 2009. He is a Panamanian of Italian descent from his father's side.- Early life :...
.
Career
She finished studies in the National Institute and the University of Panamá, where she obtained her Bachelor Degree with honours in Agronomy Engineering. She also holds post-graduate studies in education.She started her political Career as Member of the Panamanian Student Federation and joined the Partido Revolucionario Democrático in 1979, the largest political party in Panama.
She was a close collaborator of Manuel Antonio Noriega during his rule in the 1980s. She was involved in the leadership of the Dignity Battalions
Dignity Battalions
The Dignity Battalions were paramilitary combatants created by Panama's military government in the 1980s to help train workers and farmers to defend Panama against invasion by the United States...
, Noriega's regime militias and para-military squads.
She has served as Mayor of San Miguelito, Legislator, President of the National Assembly and Minister of Housing in the Cabinet of President Martin Torrijos
Martín Torrijos
Martín Erasto Torrijos Espino is a Panamanian politician and the former President of the Republic of Panama.Torrijos was elected President on May 2, 2004...
. She was the Democratic Revolutionary Party
Democratic Revolutionary Party
The Democratic Revolutionary Party is a Panamanian political party. It was founded in 1979 by the General Omar Torrijos, and is generally described as a party of the centre-left of the political spectrum.-History and creation:...
(PRD) candidate for President of Panama in the election
Panamanian general election, 2009
Presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Panama on May 3, 2009.The government-supported presidential candidate and member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party was the former Housing Minister Balbina Herrera. The Liberal Party and the People's Party were in alliance with the PRD, in...
, held on May 3, 2009. She won her party's primary on September 7, 2008 with 49% of the vote, defeating Panama City
Panama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro
Juan Carlos Navarro
For the professional basketball player, see Juan Carlos Navarro Juan Carlos Navarro is a Panamanian businessman, environmentalist, and politician and was the Mayor of Panama City, Panama until June 30, 2009....
. If elected, she would have become Panama's second female president. However, Herrera lost to Ricardo Martinelli, the candidate of the opposition coalition's led by his "Democratic Change" party.