Yanibel Ábrego

  1. Home
  2. Wiki
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ábrego and the second or maternal family name is Smith.

Yanibel Yineva Ábrego Smith (born 17 July 1978) is a politician from Panama that formerly served as a Deputy of the National Assembly from 2009 until 2024 and was President of the National Assembly from 2017 until 2019. In 2024, she was elected leader of the Democratic Change party.

Early life and career

[edit]

Ábrego was born in Panama City on 17 July 1978 and studied at the Isabel Herrera de Obaldía Professional School. She then studied for a Business Administration and Accounting degree from the University of Panama,[1] and holds a diploma from a university in Argentina in Political Science.[2]

Political career

[edit]

She was first elected to the National Assembly as an independent for the 8-2 Circuit seat in the 2009 general election.[1] In 2010 she joined Democratic Change and was re-elected as a Deputy at the 2014 election, and for the 13-2 circuit seat at the 2019 election.[3][1] In July 2017, she was elected as President of the National Assembly (the presiding officer of the Assembly) with 37 votes out of 71,[4] serving until 2019.[5][6]

In 2023, she sought the presidential nomination of Democratic Change, but lost to incumbent party chairman and previous presidential candidate Rómulo Roux. Due to losing the presidential primary, she was blocked from running for re-election as a Deputy at the 2024 election.[7]

In October 2024, she was elected as leader of Democratic Change at their national convention.[8]

Personal life

[edit]

Ábrego married Quibían Panay, a former Deputy of the National Assembly, in 2020.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "¿Quién es Yanibel Ábrego?". Foco Panama. 23 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Yanibel Ábrego". Espcacio Cívico. 27 February 2023.
  3. ^ "DIPUTADO GANADORES 2019" (PDF). tribunal-electoral.gob.pa.
  4. ^ "Yanibel Ábrego es electa presidenta de la Asamblea Nacional". En Segundos. 1 July 2017.
  5. ^ "MEMORIA_AN 2017_18W_15mb.pdf". repositorio.asamblea.gob.pa. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  6. ^ "MEMORIA DE LA ASAMABLEA NACIONAL- HD YANIBEL ABREGO 2018-2019.pdf". repositorio.asamblea.gob.pa. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  7. ^ ""Spock" throws the hammer down on Abrego for election". Panama Now Online. 10 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Yanibel Ábrego asume la presidencia de Cambio Democrático". Decisiones Panamá. 28 October 2024.
  9. ^ "'Los declaro'... Yanibel Ábrego y Quibian Panay se casan; hay boda en Capira". Panama America. 24 January 2020.