Laurentino "Nito" Cortizo Cohen (Spanish pronunciation: [lawɾenˈtino koɾˈtiso ˈko.en]; born 30 January 1953) is a Panamanian politician who served as the 38th President of Panama from 2019 to 2024.

[4] The eldest of six siblings, Cortizo attended Javier Elementary School and completed his secondary education at La Salle College in Diriamba, Nicaragua.

[5][6] After graduation, Cortizo moved to Washington, D.C., in 1981 to work as a technical advisor to the secretary-general of the Organization of American States (OAS).

In addition, Cortizo chaired the working group for development problems of the states of the Central American isthmus and the permanent executive committee of the economic and social council.

[2] He also served as Minister of Agricultural and Livestock Development under President Martín Torrijos, however he resigned in 2006 due to his objections to the negotiations made in pursuit of the US-Panama Free Trade Agreement.