José Raúl Mulino Quintero

José Raúl Mulino, who was born on June 13, 1959 in David, Chiriquí, Republic of Panama, was elected president in the general elections of May 5, 2024. Mulino, a lawyer by profession, has extensive experience in the legal, governmental and political fields.

Educated at the Colegio San Vicente de Paúl in David, Chiriquí (today known as Colegio San Agustín), Mulino continued his higher education at the Universidad Santa María La Antigua (USMA) in Panama, where he graduated in Law and Political Science in 1982. He subsequently earned a master's degree in Maritime Law from Tulane University, New Orleans, in 1983.

In the professional field, Mulino began his career as a lawyer in 1983 and stood out as a founding partner of the law firm Fábrega, Molino y Mulino in 1988, where he remained until 2015. Since then, he has been a counsel at the law firm Mulino & Mulino. His experience extends to the international maritime sector, where he has represented shipping companies, shipowners and banks in Europe and Asia since 1989.

Mulino's public career is equally remarkable. He began as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1990, and in 1993 was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position he held until 1994. During his term, in April 1994, he was the first Panamanian foreign minister to visit Russia after 90 years of diplomatic relations. He also served as an alternate magistrate of the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice between 1994 and 1996. In the government of Ricardo Martinelli, he was appointed Minister of Government and Justice in 2009 and then Minister of Public Security in 2010, a position he held until 2014.

In the political sphere, Mulino has led several parties, including the presidency of the Solidarity Party (2005-2008) and the Patriotic Union Party (2008-2011). In 2018, he was a presidential pre-candidate for the Democratic Change Party. Finally, on March 5, 2024, he became the presidential candidate of the Realizing Goals (RM) party and won the general elections in May of that same year.

Mulino is also known for his participation in the National Civilist Crusade, where he played a key role in opposing the regime of Manuel Antonio Noriega, contributing to its fall in 1989. In addition, he has held positions in the business sector, being president of APEDE and vice president of CONEP between 1989 and 1990.

José Raúl Mulino has been married to Maricel Cohen since 1985 and is the father of four children: José Raúl Jr., Monique Alexandra, Alexandra Victoria and Verónica Isabel Mulino Cohen. He is also the grandfather of four grandchildren: Sofía Victoria, Samuel Ignacio, Isabella Mía and Camila Mar.

Mulino has received numerous decorations in recognition of his service, including the Grand Cross of the Republic of Panama, Colombia, Argentina, the Government of Antioquia and the Peruvian Cross of Naval Merit, among others.

On July 1, 2024, Mulino will assume the presidency, becoming Panama's seventh elected president in the democratic era, marking a new chapter in the country's political history.

Source: Office of the President of the Republic of Panama, September 2026