Roberto Francisco Chiari Remón (March 2, 1905 – March 1, 1981) was the

President of Panama This article lists the heads of state of Panama since the short-lived first independence from the Republic of New Granada in 1840 and the final Separation of Panama from Colombia, separation from Colombia in 1903. Since 1904 the head of state of ...

in 1949 and from 1960 to 1964. He belonged to the

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Before being president

He was president of the Chamber of Commerce. He worked in the sugar company of his family with his father Rodolfo Chiari and brothers. He was the only one of his brothers that was interested on politics. He was elected to the National Assembly in 1940. During the Ricardo de la Guardia administration he was Minister of Health and Public Works. He was one of Domingo Díaz Arosemena's

vice presidents A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice ...

and briefly served as acting president in 1949. He lost the presidential elections of 1952. He was president of his Liberal Party for the next 8 years.

1960 election

He was elected in a clean and peaceful election. He was campaigning against former president Ricardo Arias and Victor Goytia.

Administration

Chiari's government worked hard on the education sector. The General Hospital of the Social Security was inaugurated and an extensive vaccination program developed. His administration is most remembered for the historic events of January 9, 1964, known today as

Martyrs' Day Martyrs' Day are days observed in or by some countries, including the United States, Japan, India, Brazil, Canada and Australia, to recognise martyrs such as soldiers, revolutionaries or victims of genocide. Below is a list of various Martyrs' Days ...

. During a dispute between Panamanian and American students regarding the right to raise the Panamanian flag instead of the U.S. flag at Balboa High School, the Panamanian flag was accidentally torn. This

flag desecration Flag desecration is the desecration of a flag, violation of flag protocol, or various acts that intentionally destroy, damage, or mutilate a flag in public. In the case of a national flag, such action is often intended to make a political point ...

sparked four days of fighting between civilians and the US Army. 22 Panamanians and four Americans died. Following these events, Chiari made the decision to break diplomatic relations with the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, making

Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and ...

the first Latin American country to make this call. This spurred negotiations that ultimately ended in the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which disbanded the

Canal Zone The Panama Canal Zone (), also known as just the Canal Zone, was a concession of the United States located in the Isthmus of Panama that existed from 1903 to 1979. It consisted of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending on each side o ...

and relinquished U.S. control of the

Panama Canal The Panama Canal () is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest point of the Isthmus of Panama, and is a Channel (geography), conduit for maritime trade between th ...

on December 31, 1999. Because of this, Chiari is known as ''el presidente de la dignidad'' (The President of Dignity).

Post-presidency

After leaving office, Chiari retired from public life and returned to work in his private companies. He was president of the ''Industrial Sindicate'' from 1967 to 1969.

References

External links

* ''"55 mandatarios" (55 presidents).'' History Album of the Panamanian newspaper ''La Prensa''. Page 62–64. * http://robert-mimundo.blogspot.com/2016/03/recordando-al-presidente-de-la-dignidad.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Chiari Remon, Roberto Francisco 1905 births 1981 deaths People from Panama City Panamanian people of Italian descent 20th-century presidents of Panama Vice presidents of Panama National Liberal Party (Panama) politicians Children of presidents