Ana Mae Díaz

Ana Mae Diaz
First Lady of Panama
In role
June 11, 1990 – September 1, 1994
Preceded byMariela de Delvalle
Succeeded byDora Boyd de Perez Balladares
Personal details
Born (1967-05-16) May 16, 1967
Spouse(s)Guillermo Endara
(m. 1990–2009)

Ana Mae Diaz de Endara (born May 16, 1967)[1] was the First Lady of Panama from 1990–1994.

Relationship with Endara

A Panamanian of Chinese origin,[2] Diaz met future president Guillermo Endara in September 1989, while he was on hunger strike to protest the autocratic military rule of Manuel Noriega.[3] Diaz was a law student at the time.[4] The former First Lady-designate, Marcela Endara, Guillermo's wife of 28 years, had died in June of a heart attack while Endara was hospitalized due to a beating by Noriega's forces.[2] International observers had reported Endara to be the clear leader in the May presidential election,[5] and — although he had earlier showed discomfort with US patronage — during the US invasion of Panama in December, he was sworn in as president from the safety of a US military base in the Canal Zone.[6]

Panamanian newspapers began to publish photographs of Diaz and Endara together in January 1990, and Endara told press the pair were "going out".[3]

First Lady of Panama

The pair married on June 11, 1990, within 9 months of having first met, in a wedding attended by the ambassadors of various nations.[7] Endara was reportedly so happy in the marriage that he would even be described as allegedly leaving cabinet meetings for a "quick cuddle".

Due in part to the couple's difference in ages and weights—Endara was in his mid-fifties, already a grandfather, and — despite his hunger strike — known for his weight; Ana Mae Díaz was 23—the marriage received widespread coverage and mockery in the Panamanian press, including a new nickname for Endara, El Gordo Feliz ("Happy Fatty").[8][9]

In 1991, Diaz slapped a journalist for asking about her criticisms of El Salvadoran president Alfredo Christiani and Panamanian justice minister Arias Calderón.[10] A year later, she won $125,000 in the national lottery and indicated that she intended to keep the money rather than donating it; the incident was cited as an example of the Endara's administration's lack of concern for the poor.[11] In 1994, she was accused of reselling food that had been donated by Italy on the streets of Panama City, one of a number of financial scandals to strike the administration.[12]

Later life

Endara ran for president again in 2004 and in 2009, placing second and a distant third, respectively.[13][14] On September 28, 2009, he died at age 73 at his home in Panama City, of a heart attack.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ana Mae Díaz de Endara
  2. ^ a b Phil Davison (October 2, 2009). "Guillermo Endara". The Independent. Retrieved August 31, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)(subscription required)
  3. ^ a b William Branigin (January 21, 1990). "U.S. Troop Visibility Reduced in Panama;As Tensions Ease, Attention Turns to President's Love Life". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  4. ^ "Panama president, law student marry". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. June 11, 1990. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  5. ^ "Endara's Coalition Faces Difficult Test". Albany Times Union. Associated Press. December 21, 1989. Retrieved August 31, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)(subscription required)
  6. ^ Kenneth Freed (May 6, 1991). "Panama's 3-Party Rule Turns Into 3-Ring Circus". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  7. ^ "Panama President Loves His New Bride". Tuscaloosa News. June 11, 1990. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Guillermo Endara". The Telegraph. October 2, 2009. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  9. ^ "Scandals end Endara presidency". Caribbean Update. October 1, 1994. Archived from the original on September 28, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  10. ^ "Get the Point?". Los Angeles Times. April 10, 1991. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  11. ^ Tod Robberson (November 17, 1992). "Panama Vote Said to Demonstrate Discontent With Leader - and U.S." The Washington Post.  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  12. ^ "Scandals end Endara presidency". Caribbean Update. October 1, 1994. Retrieved August 31, 2012. (subscription required)
  13. ^ "Not his father's son? Panama's new president.(Martin Torrijos)". The Economist. May 8, 2004. Archived from the original on September 28, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
  14. ^ Juan Zamorano (May 4, 2009). "Supermarket magnate wins Panama presidential vote". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 20, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
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