It was created in 1959 by Temístocles Díaz Q., a son of the late President Domingo Díaz Arosemena and a prominent National Patriotic Coalition (CPN) leader and First Vice-President under Ernesto de la Guardia (1956–1960).
On 3 June 1957, Diaz was joined in his stand by former President Alcibíades Arosemena and four ex-cabinet members and formed a new party named the National Liberation Movement to oppose de la Guardia.
[3] In 1960 and 1964 the MLN allied with the National Opposition Union (UNO) and its candidates Roberto Francisco Chiari Remón and Marco Aurelio Robles Méndez.
[4] In 1968 MLN allied with the People's Alliance (ADP) and its candidate David Samudio Ávila and polled 20,987 votes (06.54%).
[5] All political parties including the MLN were banned by Omar Torrijos after the military coup of 1968.