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| Eric Arturo Delvalle | |
|---|---|
| Name | Eric Arturo Delvalle |
| Birth date | 2 February 1937 |
| Birth place | Panama City, Panama |
| Death date | 2 October 2015 |
| Death place | Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
| Office | President of Panama |
| Term start | 28 September 1985 |
| Term end | 26 February 1988 |
| Predecessor | Nicolás Ardito Barletta |
| Successor | Manuel Solís Palma |
| Party | Revolutionary Democratic Party |
Eric Arturo Delvalle was a Panamanian politician who served as Vice President and then President of Panama during a turbulent period marked by tensions with the Panama Canal Zone, the United States, and the military leadership of General Manuel Noriega. He assumed the presidency following the resignation of Nicolás Ardito Barletta and later attempted to remove Noriega from power, an action that precipitated a failed coup, international controversy, and Delvalle's eventual exile. His tenure intersected with regional developments involving Central America, Colombia, and international organizations such as the Organization of American States.
Delvalle was born in Panama City into a family with ties to the Sephardic Jewish community and commercial circles, and he pursued studies that connected him to Panama's business and political elite. He attended local schools in Panama and later studied law and business, engaging with institutions linked to Panama's commercial sector and financial centers including contacts with figures from Banco Nacional de Panamá and local chambers like the Panamanian Chamber of Commerce. His formative years coincided with major events such as disputes over the Panama Canal Zone and political shifts involving leaders like Omar Torrijos and Demetrio B. Lakas.
Delvalle entered national politics through affiliation with the Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD), serving in executive and legislative roles that brought him into contact with presidents and military leaders including Aristides Royo, Ricardo de la Espriella, and Manuel Noriega. As Vice President under Nicolás Ardito Barletta, he dealt with issues related to Panama's relations with the United States, negotiations concerning the Panama Canal Treaties, and interactions with regional actors such as Costa Rica, Honduras, and El Salvador. His alliances and rivalries involved prominent Panamanian figures like Rubén Darío Paredes and international interlocutors including representatives of the Organization of American States and diplomats from Washington, D.C..
Assuming the presidency on 28 September 1985 after the resignation of Nicolás Ardito Barletta, Delvalle's administration unfolded amid crises linked to allegations of electoral fraud during the 1984 elections, protests involving opposition leaders such as Moisés Giroldi, and heightened scrutiny from the United States Department of State and congressional delegations. His government navigated tensions with Manuel Noriega, who exerted influence through the Panamanian military institution, and faced economic and legal challenges affecting entities like Panama's banking sector and the Inter-American Development Bank. Internationally, Delvalle engaged with leaders including Ronald Reagan, Jorge Serrano Elías, and representatives from the United Nations as Panama's sovereignty and canal negotiations remained prominent.
In February 1988, Delvalle issued a proclamation seeking to remove General Manuel Noriega from his position, a move that prompted a power struggle involving the National Guard, Panamanian institutions such as the Legislative bodies, and responses from foreign capitals including Washington, D.C. and missions to the Organization of American States. The attempt to depose Noriega led to a declaration by the Panamanian legislature naming Manuel Solís Palma as successor and to Delvalle's ouster and subsequent flight from Panama to avoid arrest by security forces loyal to Noriega. During his exile he sought refuge and support from governments including the United States and contacts with diplomatic missions in Miami and Washington, D.C., while international bodies debated recognition and legitimacy, paralleling events that involved sanctions and diplomatic actions by the United Nations General Assembly and congressional measures in United States Congress.
Following his removal from office and period in exile, Delvalle remained a figure in Panamanian political discussions that involved parties and personalities such as the Democratic Revolutionary Party, opposition leaders like Guillermo Endara, and international legal forums addressing crimes and sanctions tied to Noriega's regime. He lived abroad, maintaining ties with Panamanian expatriate communities in cities such as Miami and Los Angeles, and interacting with émigré networks connected to Latin American politics and legal advocacy groups. Delvalle died on 2 October 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio, with notices and responses from Panamanian officials, media outlets in Panama City, and international observers reflecting on the era of his leadership and its links to figures like Manuel Noriega, Nicolás Ardito Barletta, and regional developments in Central America.
Category:Presidents of Panama Category:People from Panama City Category:1937 births Category:2015 deaths