Demetrio B. Lakas

Demetrio Basilio Lakas ( born August 29, 1925 in Colón, † 2 November 1999) was the 35th President of the Republic of Panama.

Lakas went to San Jose to school and learned the profession of a business person. Later he went to the Panama Canal Zone to college and became an art assistant. In 1946 he moved to Texas Wesleyan College and learned the profession of public administration clerks. Following this, he immediately went to the Texas Technological College, where he completed his training as an engineer. A short time later he became president of the Social Insurance Institution and President of the Provisional Government meeting.

On 19 December 1969 he took over as the successor of José María Pinilla Fábrega the office of president and remained in that office until 11 October 1978. He was thus the first president of Panama, by holding a tenure of almost 9 years. His successor was Aristides Royo.