Bernardino González Ruiz

González Ruíz was born in the city of Las Tablas, Los Santos, Panama, on 11 January 1911.[4][1]

González Ruíz, who was serving as Minister of State, served as acting President of Panama whilst President Roberto Chiari and Bernardino's brother Sergio, who was First Vice-President, were both out of the country. He was sworn into office on 17 March 1963, at 9:00 a.m.[4] The oath of office was administrated by Julio Mercado in the Yellow Room (Salón Amarillo) of the Palacio de las Garzas.[4] The ceremony was attended by members of the Panamanian cabinet and members of the legislature and the judiciary.[4] González appointed Ricardo E. Chiari as Foreign Minister and Don Nicanor Villalaz as the Minister of Labor, Social Welfare and Public Health.[4] His mandate as President lasted just six days and he left office on 23 March 1963.[4][1]

González Ruíz served as Panama's Envoy to the United Kingdom.[1] He also served as the President of the National Assembly of Panama for Chiriquí Province and Los Santos Province.[1] Additionally, Gonzalez returned to the federal cabinet, holding the portfolio as Minister of Labor, Health and Welfare.[1] Later in life, Gonzalez became the honorary chairman of the Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement, a center-right political party.[4]

González Ruíz died on 15 March 2012, at the age of 101 years, 64 days.[4] He had not suffered from any known illnesses at the time.[4] González Ruíz was the last surviving Panamanian President from the era prior to the 1968 military coup, which began a military dictatorship lasting from 1968 to 1989.[4][5]

The government of Panama declared three days of national mourning until 19 March 2012.[1] All flags were ordered to fly at half-mast for the three-day period.[1] González's funeral was held on 17 March 2012, at the Church of San Lucas at Colegio San Agustín in Costa del Este, Panama.[1][5] His burial was held later in the day from the Iglesia de Santa Librada in Las Tablas, Los Santos.[5]