Leonel Fernández

Infobox President
name = Leonel Fernández

---

order = President of the Dominican Republic
term_start = 16 August 2004
vicepresident = Rafael Alburquerque
predecessor = Hipólito Mejía
successor =
vicepresident2 = Jaime David Fernández Mirabal
term_start2 = 16 August 1996
term_end2 = 16 August 2000
predecessor2 = Joaquín Balaguer
successor2 = Hipólito Mejía
birth_date = birth_date_and_age|1953|12|26|df=y
birth_place = Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
party = PLD
spouse = Margarita Cedeño de Fernández

Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna (born 26 December 1953) is a Dominican politician and the current President of the Dominican Republic.

Early life and beginning of political career

He was born in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, but spent his childhood and formative years in Washington Heights, New York City, in the United States.

He joined the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) at its inception in 1973, when the late Juan Bosch left the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) to create the new party. Fernández was a close pupil of Bosch, and was presented as a vice-presidential candidate with the latter during the 1990 presidential election.

First presidential term (1996–2000)

A special election was slated for May 1996 after the 1994 presidential election had been widely criticized as a fraudulent and corrupt circus led by incumbent President Joaquin Balaguer of the Reformist Social Christian Party (PRSC). At the time Fernández was the vice presidential candidate on the PLD ticket alongside former president Juan Bosch. The Dominican constitution states that a candidate must capture a majority of votes (50% plus one) in order to be declared winner. If no candidate were to reach that amount, then a second round of voting must be held, where the only eligible candidates would be the winner and the runner-up of the first round.

In the first-round election on 16 May 1996 he received 38.9% of the vote in a three-way race, placing second behind José Francisco Peña Gómez of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD). In the second round on 30 June, however, the PLD and PRSC agreed to an alliance for that round, and he secured 51.2% of the votes to win the election and was subsequently sworn in as President on August 16, succeeding Balaguer. It was his alliance with Balaguer, to take the election from Fernandez's mentor, Juan Bosch, that helped secure the presidency for Fernández and his PLD party.

During his term in office, Fernández's political agenda was one of economic and critical reform. He helped enhance Dominican participation in hemispheric forums, such as the Organization of American States and the Miami Summit. The Dominican economy enjoyed an average growth rate of seven percent, the highest in Latin American in that period, along with countries like South Korea. Inflation was stabilized in the low single digits, the lowest in all of Latin America. He served a four-year term as President between 1996 and 2000.

Fernández also began a very personal and visionary plan to run the Dominican Republic. When developers proposed the country's first modern port during his first term, he said that "We can be the Singapore of the Caribbean". [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1184077,00.html Tropical Paradox, by Ken Stier. Time.com] ]

In Santo Domingo, he built highways and tunnels and favored foreign investment, but delayed fundamental social reforms, like education and public health.fix|link=Wikipedia:Contents|text=citation needed

Fernandez wasn't able to run for a second term (the constitution did not allow it) and thus, his party chose his right-hand man, Danilo Medina, as its candidate for the 2000 election. However, Medina was defeated by a charismatic populist PRD leader, Hipólito Mejía, who captured the popular sentiment at the time, as many Dominicans felt that the Fernández reforms had not improved their lives greatly, and questioned claims of unprecedented economic growth.fix|link=Wikipedia:Contents|text=citation needed

econd presidential term (2004–2008)

Fernández was elected to a second term of office in the presidential election held on 16 May 2004 with an absolute majority and the second highest percentage ever in Dominican history (57%), representing the PLD. His victory was due in large part to the collapse of the Dominican economy. This collapse has been attributed to skyrocketing oil prices and a slumping international economy post-9/11, excessive borrowing under the Mejía administration and the failure of three of the biggest banks in the country: Banco Intercontinental (Baninter), Bancrédito and Banco Mercantil. In an effort to avoid further economic chaos, the Mejía administration effectively underwrote all three banks, repaying their customers but generating even greater public debt. Some of the bankers involved have been or are on trial, yet the extent of their fraud is hard to measure as their widespread largess with officials within both the Fernández and Mejía administrations has made it nearly impossible to achieve a true accounting of what conditions led to their demise.

Fernández was sworn in for his second term on 16 August 2004. He is seen by many Dominicans as a forward and innovative thinker yet he is considered very traditional regarding social investment. According to local sociologist José Oviedo, "The country trusts him with the economy, but he does not seem to pay that much attention to social issues." Economic prosperity, which his government boasts of, doesn't seem to reach enough people.

Many argue that his tight focus on technological development is often at the expense of basic needs such as food, health, and education and judicial reforms. Perhaps Fernández's biggest issue during both terms in office is his inability to resolve the country's chronic energy problems, as well as his unwillingness to contend with governmental clientelism and corruption. His position as legal counsel for the failed Banco Intercontinental during its spectacular collapse brings to light his possible participation in the bank's alleged government influence peddling.And despite his rhetorical intolerance of corruption, Fernández hasn't seriously challenged the country's long-standing culture of impunity enjoyed by thieving élites. According to political analyst Pedro Catrain, "Leonel is the most capable politician we have, and he understands very well what the country needs to do to modernize, but politically he is proving to be very traditional, indulging in the most perverse forms of Dominican politics, paternalism and corruption."

The Santo Domingo Metro

Equally controversial is the fact that Fernández is spending almost as much in building one subway line—$700 million—as it does on education and health together. Moreover, Dominicans still don't know how much this subway will cost as there was no clear budget and no previous geological studies. When the political journalist, Luis Eduardo Lora, requested the documents and studies that supported the subway line construction, the government refused to make them public citing National Defense issues. Finally, almost a year later and due to a Supreme Court decision, Lora received the documents, which were said to be inaccurate and incomplete. [es [http://www.clavedigital.com/Portada/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=12071] ]

Cabinet

These are the current ministers of the cabinet, named as State Secretaries: [es [http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/pre_decretos_det.aspx?id=4590&e=8%2f16%2f2004 Decree of the President] ]
* Secretary of Armed Forces: Vice Admiral Sigfrido Pared Pérez
* Secretary of the Presidency: Vacant
* Secretary of Foreign Relations: Carlos Morales
* Secretary of Economy and Planification: Juan Temístocles Montas
* Secretary Administrative of the Presidency: Luis Manuel Bonetti
* General Procurator of the Republic: Radhamés Jiménez
* Secretary of Finance: Vicente Bengoa
* Secretary of Industry and Commerce: Francisco Javier García
* Secretary of Education: Alejandrina Germán
* Secretary of Interior and Police: Franklin Almeyda Rancier
* Secretary of Higher Learning, Science and Technology: Ligia Amada Melo
* Secretary of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation: Felipe Payano
* Secretary of Agriculture: Amílcar Romero
* Secretary of Public Works: Manuel de Jesus Perez
* Secretary of Culture: Jose Rafael Lantigua
* Secretary of Labor: José Ramón Fadul
* Secretary of Tourism: Félix Jiménez
* Secretary of Public Health and Social Assistance: Sabino Báez
* Secretary of the Youth: Manuel Crespo
* Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources: Maximiliano Puig Miller
* Secretary of Women: Gladys Gutiérrez
* Secretary without Portfolio: Euclides Gutiérrez Félix

Changes in the cabinet

* Secretary of the Presidency: None
* General Procurator of the Republic: Radhamés Jiménez Peña (16 August 2006) es [http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/pre_decretos_det.aspx?id=6355&e=8%2f16%2f2006 Decree 342-06 of the President] ]
* Secretary of Agriculture: Salvador Jiménez (16 August 2006)
* Secretary of Armed Forces: Lieutenant General Ramón Antonio Aquino García (16 August 2006) [ es [http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/pre_decretos_det.aspx?id=6356&e=8%2f16%2f2006 Decree 343-06 of the President] ]
* Secretary of Public Health and Social Assistancy: Bautista Rojas Gómez
* Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources: Omar Ramírez (20 August 2007) es [http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/pre_decretos_det.aspx?id=8304&e=8%2f20%2f2007 Decree 437-07 of the President] ]
* Secretary of Public Works: Víctor Díaz Rua (20 August 2007)
* Secretary of Industry and Commerce: Melanio Paredes (20 August 2007) [ es [http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/pre_decretos_det.aspx?id=8314&e=8%2f20%2f2007 Decree 447-07 of the President] ]
* Secretary of Public Administration (New) [es [http://www.onap.gov.do/Onap/ContentManager/Archivos/Documentos/Ley%20No.%2041-08%20sobre%20la%20Funci%C3%B3n%20P%C3%BAblica.pdf Law 41-08 of Congress of the Republic] ] : Ramón Ventura Camejo (8 February 2008) [es [http://www.onap.gov.do/onap/contentmanager/Archivos/Documentos/Decreto%2071-08.pdf Decree 71-08 of the President] ]

Presidential Elections 2008

Primary Election 2007

During the Mejía administration, the constitution was changed to allow the sitting president to run for a new term. Although Mejía was ultimately unsuccessful in his bid for re-election, this opened the door for Fernández to attempt a similar run. On 7 May 2007, despite great controversy over whether the PLD party should support the concept of re-election, Fernández won the PLD primary election with a 72% voting percentage against his former Chief of Staff and confidant, Danilo Medina.

As a result, Fernández became the official PLD candidate for the presidency in the May 2008 General Election.

Results

Fernández was declared the victor of the 2008 election, defeating six others, including PRD's candidate and former president Mejía's right-hand man, Miguel Vargas, and PRSC's candidate, Amable Aristy.

President Fernández defeated Vargas 53% to 40%, while the third big-party candidate, Aristy, got only around 4%. [ [http://clavedigital.com./Portada/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=13874] ] This allows LF a second consecutive term, and a third term overall. Vargas accepted the defeat on 16 May at around 11:30pm. [ [http://www3.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=16650 Miguel Vargas reconoce su derrota - DiarioLibre.com ] ] President Fernández was sworn in for his term term on 16 August 2008, with the traditional ceremony at the National Congress. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/6478056.html "Dominican president sworn in for third term"] , Xinhua ("People's Daily Online"), August 17, 2008.]

Third presidential term (2008–2012)

Fernández was elected to a third term of office in the presidential election held on 16 May 2008 with an absolute majority (54%), representing the PLD. Fernández was sworn in for his third term on 16 August 2008.

Cabinet

These are the current ministers of the cabinet, named as State Secretaries:
* Secretary of Armed Forces: Major General Pedro R. Peña Antonio (with the transitory rank of Lieutenant General Pilot)
* Secretary of the Presidency: César Pina Toribio
* Secretary of Foreign Relations: Carlos Morales
* Secretary of Economy and Planification: Juan Temístocles Montas
* Secretary Administrative of the Presidency: Luis Manuel Bonetti
* General Procurator of the Republic: Radhamés Jiménez Peña
* Secretary of Finance: Vicente Bengoa
* Secretary of Industry and Commerce: José Ramón Fadul
* Secretary of Education: Melanio Paredes
* Secretary of Interior and Police: Franklin Almeyda Rancier
* Secretary of Higher Learning, Science and Technology: Ligia Amada Melo
* Secretary of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation: Felipe Payano
* Secretary of Agriculture: Salvador Jiménez
* Secretary of Public Works: Víctor Díaz Rua
* Secretary of Culture: Jose Rafael Lantigua
* Secretary of Labor: Maximiliano Puig Miller
* Secretary of Tourism: Félix Jimenez
* Secretary of Public Health and Social Assistance: Bautista Rojas Gómez
* Secretary of the Youth: Franklin Rodríguez
* Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources: Jaime David Fernández Mirabal
* Secretary of Women: Alejandrina Germán
* Secretary of Public Administration: Ramón Ventura Camejo
* Secretary without Portfolio: ?

Awards and honours

* Collar of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella
* Collar of the Order of Christopher Columbus

He is a member of the Club of Madrid. [en [http://www.clubmadrid.org The Club of Madrid] is an independent organization dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world by drawing on the unique experience and resources of its Members – 66 democratic former heads of state and government.]

President Fernández has been distinguished with the honorary degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the following institutions:

*University of Paris or "La Sorbonne" - 1999
*Harvard University - 1999
*Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureňa - 2000
*Seton Hall - 2000
*Universidad de Santiago de Chile - 2002
*Lehman College - 2002
*Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey - 2004
*University of Massachusetts, - 2005
*Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Korea - 2006

References

External links

* [http://www.leonelfernandez.com Página Oficial del Dr. Leonel Fernández]
* [http://www.presidencia.gov.do Presidencia de la República Dominicana]
* [http://www.palantepresidente.com Pa'lante Presidente con el Dr. Leonel Fernández]

Persondata
NAME= Fernández, Leonel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Dominican Republic politician
DATE OF BIRTH= December 26, 1953
PLACE OF BIRTH= Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=