Arnulfo Arias

Arnulfo Arias Madrid ( born August 15, 1901 in Penonomé, Former Colombia, now Panama; † August 10, 1988 in Miami, Florida) was three times president of Panama.

Life

Arnulfo Arias Madrid was the brother of former President Harmodio Arias Madrid. He began to become politically active from the mid- 1920s and also took part in the revolution of 1931. He was the founder of the party who brought his brother in 1932 to power. He served as Minister of Public Relations and in 1935/36 as Minister of Agriculture. In the following years, he was Ambassador of Panama in France and the UK.

During his first term he introduced in his country a compulsory social security contributions as well as women's suffrage. He also campaigned for a more liberal prison system and facilitated foreign investment.

The Partido Paulista Arnulf founded in 1980, was to prove to his person honor, named after him. His widow, Mireya Moscoso was elected for the party in 1999 as President of the country.

In January 2012, 23 years after his death, Arnulfo Arias Madrid was given a state funeral and was ceremoniously buried in his hometown of Penonomé.

Terms

All three terms were ended by military coups.