# Arnulfo Arias

_President of Panama (1901-1988)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/arnulfo-arias
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Arnulfo Arias Madrid (15 August 1901 – 10 August 1988) was a Panamanian politician, medical doctor, and writer who served as the President of Panama from 1940 to 1941, again from 1949 to 1951, and finally for 11 days in October 1968.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 15 August 1901 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q603836#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Penonomé ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q603836#P19))
- **Died:** 10 August 1988 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q603836#P570))
- **Place of death:** Coral Gables ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q603836#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Panama ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q603836#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; physician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q603836#P106))
- **Political party:** Panameñista Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q603836#P102))
- **Education:** Harvard Medical School; University of Chicago ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q603836#P69))
- **Spouse:** Mireya Moscoso; Ana Matilde Gómez ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q603836#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of Panama (1 October 1968 – 11 October 1968); President of Panama (24 November 1949 – 9 May 1951); President of Panama (1 October 1940 – 9 October 1941); ambassador of Panama to the United Kingdom ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q603836#P39))
- **X (Twitter):** arnulfoariasm ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q603836#P2002))

## About

Throughout his adult life, he warned about the increasing influence of the military in Panamanian politics and vowed to reduce that. In turn, he was denied his presidential electoral success in 1948 by the military. Arias's tenure as president was characterized by corruption, nepotism and autocratic practices. In 1951, Arias sought to restore the 1941 constitution and threatened to disband the Panama legislature, which prompted protests. The legislature impeached Arias, who was succeeded by Alcibiades Arosemena.

He was removed from the presidency thrice by the military.

## Questions

**When was Arnulfo Arias born?**  
Arnulfo Arias was born on 15 August 1901 in Penonomé.

**What positions has Arnulfo Arias held?**  
Positions held by Arnulfo Arias include: President of Panama (1968–1968); President of Panama (1949–1951); President of Panama (1940–1941); ambassador of Panama to the United Kingdom.

**Where did Arnulfo Arias study?**  
Arnulfo Arias was educated at Harvard Medical School, University of Chicago.

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- [Rodolfo Chiari](https://diginpl.com/people/rodolfo-chiari)
- [Eric Arturo Delvalle](https://diginpl.com/people/eric-arturo-delvalle)
- [Martín Torrijos](https://diginpl.com/people/martin-torrijos)
- [Federico Boyd](https://diginpl.com/people/federico-boyd)
- [Enrique Adolfo Jiménez](https://diginpl.com/people/enrique-adolfo-jimenez)
- [Mireya Moscoso](https://diginpl.com/people/mireya-moscoso)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Arnulfo Arias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnulfo_Arias) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q603836](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q603836) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: A. Arias President of Panama (cropped).jpg by Department of State. U.S. Embassy, Panama. 4/3/1964 (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A._Arias_President_of_Panama_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Arnulfo Arias, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: A. Arias President of Panama (cropped).jpg — Department of State. U.S. Embassy, Panama. 4/3/1964, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Arnulfo Arias". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/arnulfo-arias. Retrieved 8 November 2026.