José Raúl Mulino
Who was José Raúl Mulino?
Panamanian lawyer and diplomat who became the 51st President of Panama in 2024.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on José Raúl Mulino (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
José Raúl Mulino Quintero was born on June 13, 1959, in David, Panama. He studied law at the Catholic University Santa María La Antigua in Panama and furthered his education at Tulane University in Louisiana, United States. His studies in law and international affairs set the stage for a career in diplomacy, government administration, and eventually Panama's highest elected office.
Before Fame
Growing up in David, the capital of Chiriquí Province, Mulino experienced a politically turbulent time in Panama with military rule under Omar Torrijos and later Manuel Noriega. He studied law at two respected institutions, one in Panama and one in the United States, which set the stage for his diplomatic and government work. Early in his career, he worked in President Guillermo Endara's administration, following the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama that removed Noriega. This gave Mulino firsthand experience with the challenges of rebuilding democracy after authoritarian rule.
Key Achievements
- Elected 39th President of Panama in 2024, winning under the Realizing Goals party banner
- Served as Minister of Foreign Relations of Panama under President Guillermo Endara from 1993 to 1994
- Directed national public security policy as Minister of Public Security from 2010 to 2014 under President Ricardo Martinelli
- Received the Order of Boyacá from Colombia and the Order of the Liberator General San Martín from Argentina for international diplomatic contributions
- Served on the National Council of Foreign Relations, helping shape Panama's post-transition foreign policy from 1994 to 1995
Did You Know?
- 01.Mulino won the 2024 presidential election with approximately 34% of the vote despite originally entering the race as a vice-presidential candidate rather than the presidential nominee.
- 02.He has received four major national and international orders of merit, including Panama's Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero and Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa, as well as Argentina's Order of the Liberator General San Martín and Colombia's Order of Boyacá.
- 03.Mulino served as Substitute Magistrate of the Civil Chamber of Panama's Supreme Court of Justice from 1994 to 1995, giving him judicial experience in addition to his executive and diplomatic roles.
- 04.His path to the presidency became possible only after former President Ricardo Martinelli was disqualified from running due to corruption scandals, leading Martinelli to endorse Mulino as his successor candidate.
- 05.Mulino held two distinct security-related cabinet posts under President Martinelli, first as Minister of Government and Justice from 2009 to 2010 and then as Minister of Public Security from 2010 to 2014, overseeing Panama's internal security apparatus for five years.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero | — | — |
| Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa | — | — |
| Order of the Liberator General San Martín | — | — |
| Order of Boyacá | — | — |