Guillermo Endara

Guillermo Endara was a prominent Panamanian politician and lawyer. He served as the President of Panama from 1989 to 1994. Endara is best known for leading the democratic opposition against a military dictatorship. His presidency marked a major turning point in Panama's modern history. He helped guide the nation from military rule back toward democratic institutions.

Endara's early life was shaped by political instability in his home country. He was born in Panama City in 1936. His family was closely allied with Arnulfo Arias, a major political figure. When Arias was removed from power in 1941, Endara's family went into exile. He attended school in Argentina and at the Black-Foxe Military Institute in Los Angeles. He was described as a brilliant student during these years. Later, he earned a law degree from the University of Panama and studied at New York University. He eventually returned to Panama in 1963 to practice labor law.

In the late 1980s, Endara became a central figure in the fight against Manuel Noriega. Noriega was the military leader who ruled Panama as a dictator. Endara led a coalition called the Democratic Alliance of Civic Opposition, or ADOC. During the 1989 presidential election, Endara ran against Carlos Duque, a candidate supported by Noriega. The ADOC organized its own vote count to prevent fraud. This count showed Endara winning by a margin of nearly 3-to-1. International observers, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, agreed that Endara had won decisively.

Despite the clear results, the Noriega government annulled the election. This decision led to intense political conflict and violence. Endara and his running mates, Ricardo Arias Calderón and Guillermo Ford, led a protest in the streets. During this protest, they were attacked by the Dignity Battalions, a paramilitary group supporting the dictatorship. Endara was struck with an iron club and required eight stitches for a head wound. These violent images were broadcast worldwide. This international coverage helped build support in the United States for military action against Noriega.

Seven months after the election, the United States invaded Panama. On the first night of the invasion, December 20, 1989, Endara was sworn in as president. He took his oath at Fort Clayton, which was a U.S. military base. Endara faced a difficult choice regarding the invasion. Although he had opposed U.S. military action during his campaign, he accepted the presidency to ensure a transition to democracy. He stated that he felt he had no other choice from a moral and patriotic standpoint.

During his term, Endara focused on reforming the government and the military. He worked to remove Noriega loyalists from positions of power. He also sought to assert the authority of civilian leaders over the military. In 1994, the National Assembly passed an amendment to abolish the Panamanian military entirely. This action made Panama the second country in Latin America to do so. Endara replaced the military with a national police force to maintain order.

Endara's presidency saw significant economic and social changes. The nation experienced an average annual economic growth of 8%. However, these gains were not felt by everyone, as unemployment rose to nearly 19%. Endara also faced internal political struggles. His coalition, the ADOC, began to fall apart due to public disagreements between him and his vice presidents. By 1992, his public approval rating had dropped from 70% to just 10%. His administration also dealt with various financial scandals involving his staff and family.

After leaving office in 1994, Endara remained active in Panamanian politics. He ran for president again in 2004 and 2009. In 2004, he ran with the Solidarity Party and finished in second place with 31% of the vote. In his final campaign in 2009, he ran with the Moral Vanguard of the Fatherland but finished third. Endara died of a heart attack on September 28, 2009, at the age of 73. He was honored with a state funeral attended by several former presidents of Panama.