Mitchell Doens, historic Panamanian political leader, dies at 79

Mitchell Doens, a prominent Panamanian political leader and former Minister of Labor, has passed away at the age of 79. He died on Monday morning at the Santo Tomas Hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest following a period of hospitalization for pneumonia.

Doens was a foundational figure in the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), having been involved with the movement since its origins following the 1968 military coup and the nationalist processes led by General Omar Torrijos. An economist, writer, and ideologue, he was closely identified with Torrijismo and social democracy.

Throughout his career, Doens served in various capacities, including as an economist for the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and as the first sub-secretary of the National Executive Committee (CEN) during the party's reorganization after the 1989 U.S. invasion. In October 2025, he withdrew his candidacy for the PRD General Secretariat due to a cancer diagnosis, a move that paved the way for Balbina Herrera to be elected to the position.