Guillermo Endara

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Lore & Background

Guillermo Endara was born in 1936 in Panama City, Panama. His father, Guillermo Endara Paniza, was an ally of Authentic Panameñista Party founder Arnulfo Arias, and the family went into exile after Arias was overthrown in a 1941 coup. Endara went to school in Argentina and to Black-Foxe Military Institute in Los Angeles in the United States, where he was described as being a 'brilliant student'. He later attended the University of Panama Law School, where he graduated first in his class, and New York University. He returned to Panama in 1963 to practice law, specializing in labor law, and co-founded one of Panama's most successful law firms. He won his first public office in 1964 but declined to take it due to evidence of voter fraud. Endara later served two terms in the National Assembly, and in 1968 served as minister of planning and economic policy during Arias's very brief third term. When Arias was overthrown again in October 1968, Endara went underground, was jailed briefly in 1971, and joined Arias in exile until 1977. In the 1989 presidential election, Endara ran as the candidate of the Democratic Alliance of Civic Opposition (ADOC). His rival was Carlos Duque, a candidate selected by Noriega. ADOC organized a count of results from precincts before they were sent to district centers, showing Endara trouncing Duque by a nearly 3-to-1 margin. International observers led by former US President Jimmy Carter and a separate group appointed by US President George H. W. Bush agreed Endara had won a decisive victory. Noriega annulled the results due to 'foreign interference.' The next day, Endara and his running mates led a protest that was attacked by Dignity Battalions. Endara was struck with an iron club, leaving a gash on his head; he was briefly hospitalized and received eight stitches. Images of the attacks were carried by media worldwide and credited with building public support in the US for the invasion. During the US invasion in December 1989, Endara had taken refuge in US military bases. American officials told him that if he did not accept the presidency, the only alternative would be an undisguised American occupation. Though Endara had opposed US military action during his campaign, he accepted, stating later that 'morally, patriotically, civically I had no other choice.' He was certified the winner and inaugurated at Fort Clayton on December 20, 1989. During his presidency, Endara oversaw reform of the Panamanian Defense Forces, purging Noriega loyalists and returning the group to a national police force. In October 1994, the National Assembly passed an amendment abolishing the military at Endara's urging, making Panama the second Latin American country to do so. His term saw average annual economic growth of 8%, but unemployment rose near 19%. In February 1990, Endara began a hunger strike in the Metropolitan Cathedral to call attention to poverty and pressure US President Bush to dispense pledged aid; he lost more than 14 kilograms (30 lb) of his 120 kilograms (260 lb). By May 1992, his public approval rating had fallen from 70% to 10%. His administration was described by the Associated Press as 'tarnished by scandal,' including accusations that his wife Ana Mae Diaz resold donated food on the streets and won $125,000 in the national lottery in 1992, keeping the money rather than donating it. In 2004, Endara broke with the Arnulfista party and ran as the candidate of the Solidarity Party, finishing second with 31% of the vote to Martín Torrijos's 47%. He later founded his own party, the Moral Vanguard of the Fatherland, and in 2009 placed a distant third with 2% of the vote. He died of a heart attack on September 28, 2009, at age 73, in his apartment in Panama City while preparing dinner. He was given a state funeral attended by President Martinelli and former presidents Perez Balladares, Moscoso, and Torrijos.

Reader's Guide

Guillermo Endara's significance lies in his role as the opposition leader who defeated Noriega's candidate in the 1989 election, only to have the results annulled, and then was sworn in during the US invasion. He is credited with abolishing the Panamanian military, a move that reshaped the country's security apparatus. His administration oversaw economic recovery with 8% average annual growth, but also high unemployment near 19% and internal coalition infighting. Endara's public approval plummeted from 70% to 10% by May 1992. His presidency was marked by scandals involving his wife, including reselling donated food and keeping lottery winnings. Endara's legacy is mixed: he stood against dictatorship and restored civilian rule, but his administration struggled with governance challenges. His later electoral losses—31% in 2004 and 2% in 2009—reflect the shifting political landscape of Panama.

Did You Know?

• Endara graduated first in his class from the University of Panama Law School.
• He was beaten with an iron club by Dignity Battalions during a protest, receiving eight stitches.
• Endara began a hunger strike in February 1990, losing more than 14 kilograms (30 lb) of his 120 kilograms (260 lb) to pressure the US to dispense aid.
• His wife Ana Mae Diaz won $125,000 in the national lottery in 1992 and kept the money rather than donating it.
• Endara died of a heart attack while preparing dinner in his Panama City apartment.