Juan Carlos Varela
Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez (Spanish pronunciation: [xwaŋ ˈkaɾlos βaˈɾela roˈðɾiɣes]; born 13 December 1963) is a Panamanian businessman and former politician who served as the President of Panama from 2014 to 2019. Varela was Vice President of Panama from 2009 to 2014, and Minister of Foreign Relations from July 2009 to August 2011. He was President of the Panameñistas, the third-largest political party in Panama, from 2006 to 2016.
Juan Carlos Varela | |
|---|---|
Varela in 2014 | |
| 37th President of Panama | |
| In office 1 July 2014 – 1 July 2019 | |
| Vice President | Isabel Saint Malo |
| Preceded by | Ricardo Martinelli |
| Succeeded by | Laurentino Cortizo |
| Vice President of Panama | |
| In office 1 July 2009 – 1 July 2014 | |
| President | Ricardo Martinelli |
| Preceded by | Samuel Lewis Navarro |
| Succeeded by | Isabel Saint Malo |
| Minister of Foreign Relations | |
| In office 1 July 2009 – 30 August 2011 | |
| President | Ricardo Martinelli |
| Preceded by | Samuel Lewis Navarro |
| Succeeded by | Roberto Henriquez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez 12 December 1963 Panama City, Panama |
| Political party | Panameñista Party |
| Spouse |
Lorena Castillo (m. 1992) |
| Alma mater | Georgia Institute of Technology (BS) |
| Signature | |
Varela won the 2014 presidential election with over 39% of the votes, against the Cambio Democrático Party, led by his former political partner Ricardo Martinelli, whose candidate was José Domingo Arias. He was sworn in as president on 1 July 2014.
On 13 July 2023, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Varela was ineligible for entry into the United States due to his involvement in significant corruption: according to the US, he accepted bribes in exchange for improperly awarding government contracts. Varela denied the accusation.