Jaime Rolando Rosenthal Oliva (May 5, 1936 – January 12, 2019) was a Honduran politician,[1] and leader of one of Liberal Party of Honduras's (PLH) wings, and was a perennial candidate for President. On March 20, 1974, he founded the Banco Continental.[2] On October 7, 2015, Rosenthal was labeled a "specially designated narcotics trafficker" under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.[3]

Jaime Rosenthal
Member of National Congress of Honduras
In office
January 2002 – January 2006
Third Vice President of Honduras
In office
January 1986 – 1989
PresidentJosé Azcona del Hoyo
Personal details
Born
Jaime Rolando Rosenthal Oliva

(1936-05-05)May 5, 1936
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
DiedJanuary 12, 2019(2019-01-12) (aged 82)
San Pedro Sula
Political partyLiberal Party of Honduras
Alma materMIT Sloan School of Management
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
OccupationPolitician

Biography

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His Romanian Jewish father, Yankel Rosenthal, emigrated from Romania to Honduras in 1929.[4][5] His father married Esther Oliva from El Salvador.[6] Rosenthal held a BS degree in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MS degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management. He was one of the Vice Presidents (known as Designados Presidenciales) during the presidency of José Azcona del Hoyo (Jan. 1986-Jan.1990) and resigned because of political differences. He was also a Congressman in Honduras, (Jan. 2002 to Jan. 2006). A 2006 study by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation named Rosenthal one of "the most powerful men in Honduras" (along with Fredy Nasser and Schucry Kafie).[7]

Rosenthal died following a heart attack on January 12, 2019.[8] He was 82 years old. He was the father of Yani Rosenthal, who was a minister from 2006 to 2009 under Manuel Zelaya. His nephew, Yankel Rosenthal, is a former minister under President Juan Orlando Hernández.[9]

Grupo Continental

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Banco Continental was founded in 1974 and until its closure in late 2015 was the eighth largest bank in Honduras,[10] forming part of Grupo Continental, itself founded in 1929[11] and owned by the Rosenthal family.[12]

References

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  1. ^ Las autoridades electas tienen un compromiso grande: Jaime Rosenthal[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Historia Published by Banco Continental, retrieved October 12, 2015 Archived November 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Powerful Honduran businessman indicted in US for alleged money laundering for drug traffickers". 2015-10-09.
  4. ^ "Head Honcho of Honduras". luxner.com. 2001-10-13. Archived from the original on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  5. ^ "El golpe deja un daño económico irreversible, y al PL "dividido para siempre": Rosenthal" (in Spanish). La Jornada. 2009-11-24.
  6. ^ Dada, Carlos (22 September 2017). "Un zoológico de bestias fundado por un narco asesino" (in Spanish). Confidencial. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  7. ^ Mejía, Thelma (December 15, 2006). "HONDURAS: Governed by Vested Interests". Inter Press Service.
  8. ^ Muere el empresario Jaime Rosenthal Oliva Published by La Tribuna
  9. ^ "US requests ex-Honduran VP's extradition on drug trafficking". RFI. 3 January 2016.
  10. ^ CNBS PROCEDE A LA LIQUIDACIÓN FORZOSA DE BANCO CONTINENTAL Archived 2016-09-19 at the Wayback Machine by El Tiempo, October 12, 2015
  11. ^ "Grupo Continental reacciona ante acusaciones por lavado de activos, published in [[La Tribuna (Honduras)|La Tribuna]], 7, October, 2015". Archived from the original on 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  12. ^ Llegan liquidadores a Banco Continenta Published by La Prensa, October 12, 2015 in Spanish