Manuel Solís Palma

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Solís and the second or maternal family name is Palma.

For the Mexican Olympic cyclist, see Manuel Solis (cyclist). For the Mexican Olympic shooter, see Manuel Solis (sport shooter).

Manuel Solís Palma (3 December 1917 in Los Santos Province – 6 November 2009) was the acting president of Panama from 26 February 1988 to 1 September 1989, under the military rule of Manuel Noriega. He served as education minister in several administrations,^[1] and worked on the 1968 presidential campaign of Arnulfo Arias Madrid.^{[citation needed]}

Manuel Solís Palma
President of Panama Acting
In office 26 February 1988 – 1 September 1989
Preceded by	Eric Arturo Delvalle
Succeeded by	Francisco Rodríguez
Personal details
Born	Manuel Solís Palma (1917-12-03)3 December 1917 Los Santos, Panama
Died	6 November 2009(2009-11-06) (aged 91) Panama City, Panama
Political party	Democratic Revolutionary Party
Spouse	Thelma Hassan

In February 1988, Noriega promoted Solís from education minister to president after the firing of president Eric Arturo Delvalle.^[1] The US administration of president Ronald Reagan refused to recognize Solís or the diplomats representing him as legitimate.^[2] In May, the administration offered a deal in which Noriega would leave office in exchange for the US dropping drug charges against him; however, the Panamanian military rejected the terms, which gave no guarantee that Solís would retain power.^[3] Solís served until 1 September 1989, shortly before the US invasion of Panama which deposed Noriega.^[1] He was later described as one of a series of Noriega's puppet rulers, nicknamed the "Kleenex presidents" in Panama due to their "disposability".^[4] In 1994, he was pardoned by President Guillermo Endara for any crimes committed during the Noriega years.^[5]

In the administration of Martín Torrijos (2004–2009), Solís served again as advisor to the education minister.^[1]

He died on 6 November 2009, aged 91, from pulmonary edema in Panama City.^[1][6]

References

1. "Manuel Solis". The Washington Post. 7 November 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
2. "The tough is still in charge". The Economist. 5 March 1988. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
3. Michael Briggs (26 May 1988). "U.S. deal to get Noriega out of Panama scrapped". The Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
4. Robert C. Harding (2006). The History of Panama. Greenwood Press. p. 100. ISBN 031333322X.
5. "Briefs". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Reuters. 7 June 1994. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018.
6. "Falleció Manuel Solís Palma". La Prensa (in Spanish). 6 November 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2019.

External links

• Manuel Solís' obituary (in Spanish)

Preceded by Eric Arturo Delvalle	President of Panama 1988–1989	Succeeded by Francisco Rodríguez