Ricardo de la Espriella
Encyclopedia
Ricardo de la Espriella Toral (born September 5, 1934) was President of Panama from July 31, 1982 to February 13, 1984.
Ricardo de la Espriella is a Stanford-trained economist, and was a conservative head of the National Bank of Panama until he became Vice President
in 1978, when the all-powerful National Guard
pressed then President Aristides Royo
(considered a dangerous leftist) to resign before his term ended in 1984. Since de la Espriella was head of the National Finance Commission before Royo
s's resignation, there was a matter of his involvement with a certain insurance fraud called the "Seguros Swindle," which cut of his came to $115,000. Being a competent financial manager, he posed no threat to the dominant influence of the National Guard
, and wasted no time in referring to them as "a partner in power". Thus, de la Espriella was a type of 'puppet' president and remained so under brutal Manuel Noriega
(Panama
's first Chief of Intelligence, and then Guard
commander when Rubén Darío Paredes
resigned that title to start his own electoral campaign).
When de la Espriella took the oath as Interim President, the then Commander Paredes
immediately declared certain Panamanian papers be shut down, including La Prensa, which had become the country's conscience. De la Espriella ordered certain hoodlums to attack the newspaper, smashing the windows, typewriters, the head of a pressman, and an unfortunate victim - the director of the Central American Institute of Business Administration, who had just come by with a press release from his institution. His suit and tie caused him to be mistaken for the "La Prensa" director.
In August 1982, de la Espriella formed a new cabinet that included independents and members of the Liberal Party and the PRD
; Jorge Illueca
, Royo
's foreign minister, became the new vice president. Meanwhile, Colonel Armando Contreras became chief of staff of the National Guard
, until December 1982, when Noriega
took over that position.
The country had only a "democratic façade." President Ronald Reagan
wrote de la Espriella a response "thank you" letter on "the situation in Central America
," dated July 26, 1983, regarding a letter received by him from de la Espriella and the presidents of Colombia
, Mexico
and Venezuela
, written regarding a meeting held by the four in Cancún
on July 17, 1983. Reagan's "thank you" also outlined 4 points the United States
expected the "Contadora Four
" (as they were called) to follow.
De la Espriella remained public and appeared in "Time Magazine," "Newsweek," and other magazines - one of which printed a 1983 photo of him sitting next to the now former President George Bush, Sr. who sat alongside a young, uniformed Manuel Noriega
. If a picture is worth a thousand words, de la Espriella not only appeared as President, but as a "mediator" or "interpreter of events" whenever Noriega
hovered.
But by 1984, de la Espriella was pressured by the National Defense Forces
, according to close friends, to reorganize his Cabinet to include supporters of an official candidate. Publicity speculated he stepped down in order to keep the election from being unfairly slanted, or most likely, driven out by the Forces
under personal threat. In "In the Time of Tyrants" by R.M. Koster & Guillermo Sanchez, 1990, W.W. Norton & Co., N.Y., pages 302-303 state (not verbatim): " ...de la Espriella was given a list of replacements for his cabinet, but balked at naming them... On February 13, he was with his family in Chiriqui Province
. Noriega
sent a plane to bring him to an urgent council of state in the capital
at which only he and Colonel Díaz Herrera
were present. Díaz Herrera
talked while Noriega
looked on. Why hadn't de la Espriella made the appointments? "They weren't good for the country," de la Espriella replied, and that was surely true...but sixteen years had passed since the good of the country had mattered a fig in the decisions of the Panamanian leaders, and that hadn't bothered de la Espriella before. So he wanted to end his term with a few scraps of dignity, but that wasn't to be and he should have known it. "You should think of your family," said Herrera
..."do you know where they are?" "
Ricardo de la Espriella resigned immediately.
Ricardo de la Espriella is a Stanford-trained economist, and was a conservative head of the National Bank of Panama until he became Vice President
Vice President of Panama
Vice President of Panama is the second highest political position in Panama. Position of only one Vice President will be filled since 2009. Previously, there were positions of First Vice President and Second Vice President, also known as first designate to presidency and second designate...
in 1978, when the all-powerful National Guard
Military of Panama
The Panamanian Public Forces are the national defense forces of Panama. Panama is the second country in Latin America to permanently abolish standing armies, leaving it with only small para-military forces. This came as a result of a US invasion that overthrew a military dictatorship which ruled...
pressed then President Aristides Royo
Aristides Royo
Aristides Royo Sánchez was President of Panama from October 11, 1978 to July 31, 1982.-History of Panama Presidents:...
(considered a dangerous leftist) to resign before his term ended in 1984. Since de la Espriella was head of the National Finance Commission before Royo
Aristides Royo
Aristides Royo Sánchez was President of Panama from October 11, 1978 to July 31, 1982.-History of Panama Presidents:...
s's resignation, there was a matter of his involvement with a certain insurance fraud called the "Seguros Swindle," which cut of his came to $115,000. Being a competent financial manager, he posed no threat to the dominant influence of the National Guard
Military of Panama
The Panamanian Public Forces are the national defense forces of Panama. Panama is the second country in Latin America to permanently abolish standing armies, leaving it with only small para-military forces. This came as a result of a US invasion that overthrew a military dictatorship which ruled...
, and wasted no time in referring to them as "a partner in power". Thus, de la Espriella was a type of 'puppet' president and remained so under brutal Manuel Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
(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...
's first Chief of Intelligence, and then Guard
Military of Panama
The Panamanian Public Forces are the national defense forces of Panama. Panama is the second country in Latin America to permanently abolish standing armies, leaving it with only small para-military forces. This came as a result of a US invasion that overthrew a military dictatorship which ruled...
commander when Rubén Darío Paredes
Rubén Darío Paredes
Rubén Darío Paredes del Río was a Panamanian army officer and the military ruler of Panamafrom 1982 to 1983.Colonel Paredes came to power following the coup against Colonel Florencio Flores. Paredes' tenure was from March 1982 to August 1983. Paredes was promoted to the rank of general on March 3...
resigned that title to start his own electoral campaign).
When de la Espriella took the oath as Interim President, the then Commander Paredes
Rubén Darío Paredes
Rubén Darío Paredes del Río was a Panamanian army officer and the military ruler of Panamafrom 1982 to 1983.Colonel Paredes came to power following the coup against Colonel Florencio Flores. Paredes' tenure was from March 1982 to August 1983. Paredes was promoted to the rank of general on March 3...
immediately declared certain Panamanian papers be shut down, including La Prensa, which had become the country's conscience. De la Espriella ordered certain hoodlums to attack the newspaper, smashing the windows, typewriters, the head of a pressman, and an unfortunate victim - the director of the Central American Institute of Business Administration, who had just come by with a press release from his institution. His suit and tie caused him to be mistaken for the "La Prensa" director.
In August 1982, de la Espriella formed a new cabinet that included independents and members of the Liberal Party and the PRD
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:...
; Jorge Illueca
Jorge Illueca
Jorge Enrique Illueca is a Panamanian politician and diplomat who served as President of Panama in 1984.Illueca was born in Panama City, Panama. He attended the University of Panama, Harvard University and the University of Chicago...
, Royo
Aristides Royo
Aristides Royo Sánchez was President of Panama from October 11, 1978 to July 31, 1982.-History of Panama Presidents:...
's foreign minister, became the new vice president. Meanwhile, Colonel Armando Contreras became chief of staff of the National Guard
Military of Panama
The Panamanian Public Forces are the national defense forces of Panama. Panama is the second country in Latin America to permanently abolish standing armies, leaving it with only small para-military forces. This came as a result of a US invasion that overthrew a military dictatorship which ruled...
, until December 1982, when Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
took over that position.
The country had only a "democratic façade." President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
wrote de la Espriella a response "thank you" letter on "the situation in 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...
," dated July 26, 1983, regarding a letter received by him from de la Espriella and the presidents of Colombia
Belisario Betancur
Belisario Betancur Cuartas is a Colombian statesman, who as a member of the Colombian Conservative Party was President of Colombia from 1982 to 1986.- Biographic data :...
, Mexico
Miguel de la Madrid
Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado is a Mexican politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party who served as President of Mexico from 1982 to 1988.-Biography:...
and Venezuela
Luis Herrera Campins
Luis Antonio Herrera Campins was President of Venezuela from 1979 to 1984. He was elected to one five-year term in 1978. He was a member of the COPEI party.- Early Life and career:...
, written regarding a meeting held by the four in Cancún
Cancún
Cancún is a city of international tourism development certified by the UNWTO . Located on the northeast coast of Quintana Roo in southern Mexico, more than 1,700 km from Mexico City, the Project began operations in 1974 as Integrally Planned Center, a pioneer of FONATUR Cancún is a city of...
on July 17, 1983. Reagan's "thank you" also outlined 4 points the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
expected the "Contadora Four
Contadora Group
The Contadora Group was an initiative launched in the early 1980s by the foreign ministers of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela to deal with the military conflicts in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, which were threatening to destabilize the entire Central American region.The original...
" (as they were called) to follow.
De la Espriella remained public and appeared in "Time Magazine," "Newsweek," and other magazines - one of which printed a 1983 photo of him sitting next to the now former President George Bush, Sr. who sat alongside a young, uniformed Manuel Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
. If a picture is worth a thousand words, de la Espriella not only appeared as President, but as a "mediator" or "interpreter of events" whenever Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
hovered.
But by 1984, de la Espriella was pressured by the National Defense Forces
Military of Panama
The Panamanian Public Forces are the national defense forces of Panama. Panama is the second country in Latin America to permanently abolish standing armies, leaving it with only small para-military forces. This came as a result of a US invasion that overthrew a military dictatorship which ruled...
, according to close friends, to reorganize his Cabinet to include supporters of an official candidate. Publicity speculated he stepped down in order to keep the election from being unfairly slanted, or most likely, driven out by the Forces
Military of Panama
The Panamanian Public Forces are the national defense forces of Panama. Panama is the second country in Latin America to permanently abolish standing armies, leaving it with only small para-military forces. This came as a result of a US invasion that overthrew a military dictatorship which ruled...
under personal threat. In "In the Time of Tyrants" by R.M. Koster & Guillermo Sanchez, 1990, W.W. Norton & Co., N.Y., pages 302-303 state (not verbatim): " ...de la Espriella was given a list of replacements for his cabinet, but balked at naming them... On February 13, he was with his family in Chiriqui Province
Chiriquí 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...
. Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
sent a plane to bring him to an urgent council of state in the capital
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...
at which only he and Colonel Díaz Herrera
Roberto Díaz Herrera
Roberto Díaz Herrera was a Panamanian colonel under General Manuel Noriega and was most famous for his public denunciation of the Panamanian dictator in 1987. After General Noriega placed him under house arrest, Col. Díaz received much support from the Panamanian people, with many passing by his...
were present. Díaz Herrera
Roberto Díaz Herrera
Roberto Díaz Herrera was a Panamanian colonel under General Manuel Noriega and was most famous for his public denunciation of the Panamanian dictator in 1987. After General Noriega placed him under house arrest, Col. Díaz received much support from the Panamanian people, with many passing by his...
talked while Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
looked on. Why hadn't de la Espriella made the appointments? "They weren't good for the country," de la Espriella replied, and that was surely true...but sixteen years had passed since the good of the country had mattered a fig in the decisions of the Panamanian leaders, and that hadn't bothered de la Espriella before. So he wanted to end his term with a few scraps of dignity, but that wasn't to be and he should have known it. "You should think of your family," said Herrera
Roberto Díaz Herrera
Roberto Díaz Herrera was a Panamanian colonel under General Manuel Noriega and was most famous for his public denunciation of the Panamanian dictator in 1987. After General Noriega placed him under house arrest, Col. Díaz received much support from the Panamanian people, with many passing by his...
..."do you know where they are?" "
Ricardo de la Espriella resigned immediately.