Laurentino Cortizo

Laurentino Cortizo Cohen was born in Panama City on January 30, 1953. He attended secondary school at the La Salle School in Nicaragua. He graduated from the University of Norwich in Vermont, United States, where he obtained his degree in Business Administration. He holds a Ph.D. in International Commerce and Marketing from the University of Texas.

After he graduated, he held several positions in the Organization of American States. He returned to Panama to manage family businesses and was elected as a deputy of the Republic in two consecutive periods: 1994-1999 and 1999-2004, where he was President of the Legislative Assembly. Between 2004 and 2006, he held the position of Minister of Agricultural Development.

Since 1986, he has exercised his profession as manager of Cortizo Group companies: Panablock, a company that produces construction materials and Hacienda Hermacor, a high genetic livestock company. He is a member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, who nominated him to the presidential candidacy, after winning the primary elections of the party in September 2018. He has the support of the Molirena party. On May 5, 2019, he was elected as President of the Republic of Panama for the period 2019-2024.