Ernesto Pérez Balladares
Encyclopedia
Ernesto Pérez Balladares González-Revilla (born June 29, 1946 in Panama City
) was the President of Panama
between 1994 and 1999. Nicknamed "El Toro" (The Bull), Ernesto Pérez Balladares is married to Dora Boyd Preciado, with 3 daughters.
Province and from the Universities of Notre Dame
and Pennsylvania
, earning a master degree in economics (1967–1969) and marketing (1970). From 1971 to 1975, he was credit officer of the City Bank for Panama
and Central America
.
to be the Minister of Economy and Finances.
In March 1979, he was one of the co-founders of the Democratic Revolutionary Party
(PRD). He was picked to be the Secretary of the Party in 1982.
At the beginning of 1991, he returned to his former party, the PRD
, and was elected Secretary of the Party.
In May 1994, he won the elections with 33.3% of the vote against Mireya Moscoso
of the Arnulfista Party, who received 24.9%, and the singer Rubén Blades
who was then president of the party Papa Egoro.
policies. Under his rule, both the electric and telephone companies were privatized
and, in 1997, Panama
entered the World Trade Organization
(WTO). His government also developed important public works such as the widening of the Inter-American Highway and the construction, by Mexican companies, of two highway north and south of the city of Panama, the "corredores".
In 1998 a referendum was held to amend the Constitution to allow the President to be reelected to a second consecutive term (the Panamanian Constitution only allows a former President to seek the office after sitting out two consecutive terms). However, the proposal was defeated by a margin of almost 2 to 1. The eventual candidate of his party, Martín Torrijos
, lost to Mireya Moscoso
, who received 44.9% of the vote. He left government on August 31, 1999. Martin Torrijos was elected later, in May 2004, for the term ending in June 2009.
Since he left office, Pérez Balladares has been suspected of illicit enrichment . He was identified by a former attorney general as one of the beneficiaries of a company that illegally took over operations of the government agency in charge of port and waterway services. The charges have been set aside by the supreme court, which has several members that were appointed by Pérez Balladares, and who are personal friends of his. The fact that the United States
authorities have revoked his visa to the United States
without providing justifications has contributed to keep alive rumours about his implications in various crimes, such as providing false passports to illegal immigrants to the United States. Since July 2009, new accusation of illicit enrichment have erupted, Mr. Balladares being accused of having received important funds from gaming companies which were allowed to operate in Panama during his term.
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...
) was the President of Panama
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...
between 1994 and 1999. Nicknamed "El Toro" (The Bull), Ernesto Pérez Balladares is married to Dora Boyd Preciado, with 3 daughters.
Studies
Ernesto Pérez Balladares graduated from a school of ChiriquiChiriquí Province
Chiriquí is a province of Panama, it is located on the western coast of Panama, and it is also the second most developed province in the country, after the Panamá Province. Its capital is the city of David. It has a total area of 6,490.9 km², with a population of 416,873 as of the year 2010...
Province and from the Universities of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, earning a master degree in economics (1967–1969) and marketing (1970). From 1971 to 1975, he was credit officer of the City Bank for Panama
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...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
.
Political career
In 1975, he was selected by the general Omar TorrijosOmar Torrijos
Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera was the Commander of the Panamanian and National Guard and the de facto leader of Panama from 1968 to 1981...
to be the Minister of Economy and Finances.
In March 1979, he was one of the co-founders of 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). He was picked to be the Secretary of the Party in 1982.
At the beginning of 1991, he returned to his former party, the PRD
PRD
-Political parties:*Partido Renovador Democrático, a political party in Angola*Parti de Renouveau Démocratique, a political party in Benin*Partido Revolucionario Dominicano, a political party in the Dominican Republic...
, and was elected Secretary of the Party.
In May 1994, he won the elections with 33.3% of the vote against Mireya Moscoso
Mireya Moscoso
Mireya Elisa Moscoso Rodríguez de Arias is a Panamanian political figure. She was the President of Panama from 1999 to 2004, representing the Arnulfista Party...
of the Arnulfista Party, who received 24.9%, and the singer Rubén Blades
Rubén Blades
Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, lawyer, actor, Latin jazz musician, and politician, performing musically most often in the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz genres...
who was then president of the party Papa Egoro.
Policies
His government was characterized by pro-free marketFree market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
policies. Under his rule, both the electric and telephone companies were privatized
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
and, in 1997, Panama
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...
entered the World Trade Organization
World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
(WTO). His government also developed important public works such as the widening of the Inter-American Highway and the construction, by Mexican companies, of two highway north and south of the city of Panama, the "corredores".
In 1998 a referendum was held to amend the Constitution to allow the President to be reelected to a second consecutive term (the Panamanian Constitution only allows a former President to seek the office after sitting out two consecutive terms). However, the proposal was defeated by a margin of almost 2 to 1. The eventual candidate of his party, Martín 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...
, lost to Mireya Moscoso
Mireya Moscoso
Mireya Elisa Moscoso Rodríguez de Arias is a Panamanian political figure. She was the President of Panama from 1999 to 2004, representing the Arnulfista Party...
, who received 44.9% of the vote. He left government on August 31, 1999. Martin Torrijos was elected later, in May 2004, for the term ending in June 2009.
Since he left office, Pérez Balladares has been suspected of illicit enrichment . He was identified by a former attorney general as one of the beneficiaries of a company that illegally took over operations of the government agency in charge of port and waterway services. The charges have been set aside by the supreme court, which has several members that were appointed by Pérez Balladares, and who are personal friends of his. The fact that the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
authorities have revoked his visa to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
without providing justifications has contributed to keep alive rumours about his implications in various crimes, such as providing false passports to illegal immigrants to the United States. Since July 2009, new accusation of illicit enrichment have erupted, Mr. Balladares being accused of having received important funds from gaming companies which were allowed to operate in Panama during his term.