Pérez Balladares, Ernesto (1946– )

Panamanian right-wing politician, president 1994–99. He promoted a free-market economic programme.

He was a founding member of the right-wing Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) in 1979, which was sympathetic to General Omar Torrijos. He served as PRD leader from 1992 and in May 1994 won the presidential election with 33% of the national vote. This was viewed as the country's first completely free and competitive election. In May 1999 he was defeated by Mireya Moscoso, widow of a former president, in the country's presidential elections.

Pérez studied economics at the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Pennsylvania, USA. He then developed a career in business, from which he emerged a millionaire.