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Edison Broce Urriola (born 1 November 1990), is the youngest Member of Parliament - Diputado Suplente - of Panama. He is independent (i.e. not party affiliation). From 2014-2015, he served as President of Members of Parliament - Diputados Suplentes de la República. He is the first ‘Son of Democracy’ (born in 1990) to be elected in office in the history of Panama. Edison has a background in Law (USMA University), and Public Policy (University of Oxford).

Early life and Education
Edison was born in a humble household after his father lost almost everything in exile when his life was at stake during the military dictatorship in Panama. His parents raised him as a multifaceted youth and prepared him to compete in many cultural contests and sports. He has received academic excellence awards and subsequent opportunities throughout his life (e.g. 50% scholarship granted by the school (since primary school).

After graduating from Colegio Javier, Edison initiated his studies in Law at Universidad de Panama. After two years, he won a merit-based scholarship (Global Ugrad), granted U.S. Department of State to study for a year in the United States. He returned to Panama and entered USMA Law School, where he acquired both his bachelor’s degree in Law and Political Science (Cum Laude); and a Master in Procedural Law (Summa Cum Laude). Afterwards, Edison won the Chevening Scholarship, and got accepted into the Blavatnik School of Government, where he obtained a Master in Public Policy.

Edison has visited over 25 countries, and lived in four, including Singapore, where he did a professional exchange with Government of Singapore, where he studied and learned the country’s best practices that could be transferred into Panama. He speaks four languages.

Leadership opportunities
He has successfully run seven elections. He entered USMA after returning from his studies in the United States, and rapidly became well-known among students. One year later, he ran and won two mass elections: as president of the Law School, and of the Student’s Federation, becoming a member of the Board of Directors of the University. There he founded Eco USMA, the environmental group of the university. He got elected president of the U.S. Embassy Youth Advisory Council (2012-2015). In this role he founded Eco Éxito – an independent environmental non-governmental organization. In 2014 he became the youngest Member of Parliament - Diputado Suplente de la República – being the first ‘Son of Democracy’ (born in 1990) to be elected in office. Running for President of Members of Parliament - Diputados Suplentes de la República - was a tough election that seemed impossible for him. He was elected leader of the minority party/coalition; and after intense campaigning he was elected President of the Diputados Suplentes (at 23 years old).

At the University of Oxford, he was elected the Student Representative of the Blavatnik School of Government before the Oxford Student Union and the Social Science Division. From 2017, Edison became a Member of the Board of Directors of The Dream Scholarship, to send Panamanian youths to study English in the United States.

Political Career
Member of Parliament – Diputado Suplente In 2014, Edison became elected Parliamentarian – Diputado Suplente; becoming the first ‘Son of Democracy’ (born in 1990) to be elected in office. He is an independent Diputado Suplente (i.e. no party affiliation).

He became unanimously elected President of the Diputados Suplentes (2014-2015), at 23 years old. During his administration they over fulfilled their goals (15/9), such as the Cooperation Agreement between the National Assembly and the University of Panama to focus on Public Policy, etc.).

He raises his voice at the national level to promote education, youth, and environmental policies. In this sense, he has presented multiple initiatives, among them, the Recycling bill that became Law in 2018; being one of the causes he has promoted since he was 19 years old, in various stages (university, community, National Assembly).

Edison is a member of the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB). Within this network, he has participated in parliamentary duties in New York, Burma, Berlin, Brasil, Nepal, Thailand, and the U.K. He has participated, along with the steering group, as panelist in multiple high level events, advocating for Human Rights.

He currently leads a youth-independent movement named ‘’Relevo Millennial’’ (Millennial Relay); which promotes youth participation in politics.