Articles by Dr. Leonel Fernández
Global Outreach for the Continued Strengthening, Development, and Advancement of the Dominican Republic: Addresses and International Participation by Dr. Leonel Fernández, President of GFDD and Funglode.
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The Crisis of American Democracy in the Dominican Republic: 60 Years Later
December 9, 2024
Sixty years ago, one of the most influential books on the country’s national political events was published, becoming the first best-seller of the modern era in the Dominican Republic. The book, “The Crisis of Democracy in America in the Dominican Republic, written in exile in Puerto Rico in 1964 by Professor Juan Bosch, clarifies in […]
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“Trump’s Victory”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
November 12, 2024
He had been the target of two impeachment proceedings. He was under investigation for his ties to the assault on the Capitol. He was convicted on 34 felony counts. He was accused of tax fraud and of stealing classified national security documents. So, how is it possible that, amid so many adversities, Donald Trump could […]
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“Elections in the United States: Between a Chaotic Past and an Unexpected Candidate”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
September 16, 2024
Initially, the US presidential elections, held this past November 5, seemed like a kind of revenge for the one that took place four years ago, in 2020, between then-President Donald Trump and the current president of the nation, Joe Biden. Many potential voters would have wanted other electoral options. In fact, the majority considered that […]
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“Observation and Mediation Participation in Venezuelan Crisis”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 5, 2024
At the invitation of the National Electoral Council (CNE), I participated as an international observer in the presidential elections held in Venezuela on July 28. I participated, along with other former presidents, a panel of U.N. electoral experts, members of the Carter Center, and thousands of national and international observers. It was not the first […]
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“Kenya: Between Haiti, Tax Reform and Social Unrest”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
July 8, 2024
At one point, many thought that the recent arrival of a contingent of Kenyan police officers to Haiti would have to be urgently returned to their country of origin. This, because of the violence and anarchy that rattled the African nation in reaction to a tax reform project introduced by the government before Parliament. The […]
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“Willie Mays: An Immortal Giant”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
June 24, 2024
I remember when I was only nine years old, my mother, Doña Yolanda, allowed me to go with Gallego, a close adult friend of the family, to the Polo Grounds, to watch my first Major League game between the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants. The main reason for attending that particular game […]
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“Could There a Possible Political Reconfiguration in the Middle East?”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
October 23, 2023
On October 7, at the crack of dawn, Hamas militias – in a cruel and savage manner – attacked several cities and towns in the southern part of Israel. As a result, more than 1,600 Israelis were killed, around 4,000 wounded and nearly 150 civilians and soldiers taken hostage. The incident has aroused understandable international […]
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“The G-7 Summit: Escalating Towards a New Cold War?”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
May 29, 2023
Among the various issues recently addressed at the G-7 summit in Hiroshima, two stand out for their particular nature: Russia’s war in Ukraine and the current geopolitical, trade and technological tensions with China. The magnitude of these conflicts is such that some international analyst’s belief that humanity is experiencing a new Cold War period. The […]
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“On Public Trust Funds”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
January 16, 2023
With the fundamental purpose of reviewing several pending legislative bills, the Executive Branch extended the legislature of the National Congress until next February 15. Among those projects to be reviewed is the one related to a public trust fund, which had been previously approved by the Senate and later sent to the Chamber of Deputies. […]
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“The Dominican Republic: Under Attack”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
November 28, 2022
The first sign was the visit of the U.S. Undersecretary of State for Citizen Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya. According to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of State, the agenda of the American official would emphasize the strategic commitment of the United States to promote human rights, confront corruption, recognize […]
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“Lula: From Death to Resurrection”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
November 7, 2022
At the end of his two terms in office, from 2003 to 2011, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had an approval rating of more than 80%. He became a sort of “rock star” of world politics. Former U.S. president Barack Obama stated that the Brazilian star was the most popular politician in the world. Lula […]
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“The IMF Report and its Political Impact”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
October 24, 2022
The first to warn that an economic hurricane was looming on the horizon was Jamie Dimon, the president of J.P. Morgan, the world’s leading investment bank. Then came Goldman Sachs, another major investment bank. Later, Deutsche Bank, Citi Bank, Bank of America and Wells Fargo issued their respective statements on this issue. Now the International […]
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“The World Crisis and our National Budget”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
October 3, 2022
When Dominican authorities began to prepare the macroeconomic context needed for the formulation of the 2023 National Budget Bill, it was recognized that the growth of the world economy will be lower than initially forecast, going from 4.4 percent to just 3.2 percent. Furthermore, according to the data, for most countries the estimates made in […]
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“The Central Bank and its Narrative Regarding Growth and Inflation”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
September 13, 2022
In the construction of its narrative on the causes of inflation in the Dominican Republic, the Central Bank presents the same disinformation and manipulation techniques that it uses when referring to economic growth in the post-Covid-19 reactivation stage. For example, the Central Bank even stated, as I have maintained on other occasions, that during 2021 […]
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“The Future of Money”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 8, 2022
Money has not always existed as we know it today. It is the result of a long evolution that has taken place through time. It took thousands of years for humanity to adapt to the use of money as a way to carry out its transactions. Aside from paper and metal currencies, other diverse modalities […]
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“La Fuerza del Pueblo: A Growing Project”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
July 25, 2022
As Roberto Carlos, the virtuoso Brazilian singer, says in his very popular song, La Fuerza del Pueblo (The People’s Force) already has a million friends. These numbers clearly highlight their presence in the national political scene, in favor of democracy and prosperity. This political force has reached its success due to the constant effort of […]
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“Ambiguity of the Dominican Economy”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
June 20, 2022
During the process of reactivating the Dominican economy, specifically after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, four sectors were characterized by their dynamism: remittances, tourism, the free-zone sector, and construction. The rebound experienced by these sectors was fundamentally due to the behavior of the U.S. economy. This shows that external factors have contributed, in an […]
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“Preparing for an Economic Hurricane”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
June 6, 2022
At first it was forecast that the rains that were impacting the Gulf of Mexico could turn into Tropical Storm Alex, the first named that appears in the list of names corresponding to the new hurricane season that recently began in the Caribbean region. But it didn´t turn out like that. The storm lost strength, […]
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“The Economy Finds Itself Between a Statistical Rebound and Real Growth”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
May 9, 2022
During the annual spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, held in Washington, D.C., the Governor of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, Héctor Valdez Albizu, delivered keynote remarks regarding the current standing of the Dominican economy. On the subject at hand, he argued that the economy “had recovered faster […]
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“Zero Interest Rate: An Ill-Advised Project”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
April 11, 2022
After reading the bill sent by the Executive Office to the Chamber of Deputies, which would temporarily eliminate the payment of customs fees for 67 products that are considered basic in a family’s food budget, I thought for a moment that the proposal was a mistake or confused reading. The confusion stemmed from the fact […]
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“The Crisis in Ukraine: An Uncertain End”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
March 21, 2022
Almost a month after Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, no one knows when or how this conflict will end. Various efforts have been made – both before and after the outbreak of the war – to reach a peaceful and diplomatic solution. But, so far, none have been successful. On three occasions US President Joe […]
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“Putin’s War”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
March 7, 2022
Why has President Vladimir Putin of Russia ordered a military intervention on the territory of Ukraine? What are his strategic goals? What does this decision mean for Russia´s relationship with the Western world: that is with the United States and the European Union? Despite the fact that this recent military occupation of Ukraine is only […]
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“Economic Growth, Statistical Carryforward and Manipulation”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
February 14, 2022
In its report on the preliminary results of the Dominican economy during 2021, the Central Bank indicated that the country´s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached a remarkable interannual growth of 12.3% during January-December of the previous year. Indeed, when comparing the economic growth of 2021 with that of the growth reached in 2020, which […]
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“Latin America: A Return to the Progressive Movement”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
January 17, 2022
The recent electoral triumphs of Luis Arce in Bolivia, Pedro Castillo in Peru, Gabriel Boric in Chile and Xiomara Castro in Honduras, raise the question of whether Latin America is returning to the democratic or progressive left. This idea becomes more relevant if one takes into consideration that prior to these electoral victories, the restructuring […]
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“Ómicron, Russia and China: Year-End Trilogy”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
December 13, 2021
As we find ourselves in the final days of 2021, considered by many as the year of recovery, three new elements have emerged that have created greater uncertainty in an unpredictable world that is in constant transformation. One of these is Ómicron, the new variant of the Covid-19 virus, as well as the recent tensions […]
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“An Alarming Inflation Period”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
November 24, 2021
In the midst of the pandemic, in 2020, one of the principal concerns faced by economists was the growth of inflation. The prices of raw materials, or commodities, had dropped drastically. However, something unheard of occurred with the price of oil. The price of a barrel of oil had dropped below US$34, which literally meant […]
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“20 Years Later: The Failure of the United States in Afghanistan”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 22, 2021
In yesterday´s edition, dated Sunday, August 22, The New York Times published a long and detailed account the U.S. has played in Afghanistan, and also highlights the various mistakes made in the recent withdrawal process of US troops and diplomatic personnel from that nation. And rightly so. The withdrawal process has been chaotic. The images […]
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“Johnny Ventura: In the Heart of the People”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 3, 2021
As the first news about the death of Johnny Ventura spread like wildfire, we were reluctant to believe it. The day before, through a mutual friend – a Dominican pastor in the state of Pennsylvania – we spoke over the phone. I hoped that it was a rumor that was going around, and that the […]
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“The Third Dose and the Voice of Science”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
July 2, 2021
The announcement made by the government authorities that a third dose of the vaccine was needed to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus in this country provoked surprise, amazement and uncertainty among the population. It was understood that we were on the right track in the national vaccination process. Under the government´s leadership and […]
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“Joe Biden: A Change in Paradigm”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
May 4, 2021
The following is the article published this past Monday, May 3, by our president Leonel Fernández in his “Listin Diario” column Global Observatory. On this occasion, he centers his analysis in the change of paradigm that President Joe Biden’s Administration will mean for the United States. SANTO DOMINGO – Upon arriving at the White House […]
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“The Pandemic Paradox”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
April 20, 2021
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the enormous and irreparable loss of human life in 2020, the world economy plummeted to its lowest levels since World War II. Numerous companies closed their doors. Millions of workers lost their jobs. World trade came to a virtual standstill, investment plummeted and, most concerning, poverty levels […]
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“Biden’s agenda”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
April 13, 2021
With the end of the Cold War in 1991, an event that contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the downfall of the Eastern European popular democracies, the United States emerged as the only world power. Back then, the conversation centered on the end of history, the […]
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“The plague of the economic virus”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
March 20, 2021
The economic impact of the coronavirus has been devastating for the Dominican Republic. Last year, the country’s GDP suffered a contraction of -6.7 percent, the largest drop since the April Revolution of 1965 some 55 years ago. This drop meant that the nominal GDP in dollars, as was recently published by the Dominican Central Bank, […]
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“The dilemma of reopening”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
May 18, 2020
Santo Domingo, DR – This Monday marks 60 days that the Dominican society has been living under a state of emergency. With the recent 15-day extension, the situation will continue to 74 consecutive days, culminating on the 2nd of June. The prolonged duration of these measures of social isolation for the sake of the preservation of […]
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“CORONAVIRUS: a pandemic without borders”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
March 30, 2020
Santo Domingo, DR – Throughout history there have been numerous pandemics which have resulted in millions of deaths in distinct parts of the world. Among these is the Antonine Plague, the Plague of Justinian, the Great Bubonic Plague, smallpox, and the Spanish Flu. However, what has happened since the beginning of the 21st century is […]
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“Automated Fraud: From the PLD Primaries to the Municipal Elections”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
February 25, 2020
Dominican Republic – The suspension of the municipal elections this past February 16 has ignited deep indignation among the Dominican people. This indignation increased as a result of the initial attitude adopted by the government and the authorities of the Central Electoral Board to attempt to minimize the magnitude of what had occurred. The occurrence […]
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“The 2010 Constitution: An Outside Perspective”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
February 6, 2020
After the proclamation of the 2010 Constitution, the criteria, values and fundamentals that served as the base of its creation have been regarded as high quality by various jurists of distinct nationalities. This assessment has given rise to the publication of exhaustive elaborate studies by authors, scholars and magistrates of international prestige. These works have […]
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“The United States and Iran: Unsustainable Peace and The Unlikely War”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
January 23, 2020
Following the surprising physical elimination of General Qassim Suleimani, Iran’s main military strategist, by order of President Trump’s government, the world experienced a jolt and was engulfed in its uncertainty. The world awaited a reaction of the Iranian government. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets following the casket that transported the remains […]
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“Law on Parties, Constitutional Court and Democracy”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
September 12, 2019
Just over a year ago, on August 13, 2018, Law 33-18 on Parties, Groups and Political Movements was passed. In that short period of time, however, the law has been challenged ten times on the basis of unconstitutionality. These appeals have been brought forth by citizens, civil society organizations, parties, groups and political movements. The […]
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“Puerto Rico: The FRAGILITY OF POWER”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 9, 2019
Just a month ago no one would have imagined that Ricardo Rosselló, who was preparing for his reelection in 2020, would stop being the governor of Puerto Rico. As of last Saturday [at the time of writing], the governor has been Pedro Pierluisi, the former resident commissioner in Washington, D.C., brought out of his ostracization […]
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“Institutional Democratic Revolution”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
July 23, 2019
With its triumph in the congressional or midterm elections of 2006, the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), for the first time, achieved a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This allowed us, at that time, to maintain that as a result of those elections, a reencounter with history had occurred in the […]
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“The Venice Commission: Constitution, Democracy, and Presidential Reelection”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
June 18, 2019
In view of some of the experiences that have been taking place in Latin America, the OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, requested that the European Commission for Democracy through Law, an advisory body, respond to several concerns in relation to constitutional limits on presidential reelection. The OAS submitted four questions to the European Commission in […]
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“The 2010 Constitution: A Comprehensive Reform”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
May 31, 2019
Santo Domingo, D.R. – In the clamor of current political debate, the idea is often slipped in that the constitutional reform of 2010 corresponds in intention or objectives with the others made to our foundational document during the past two decades. Nothing could be further from the truth. Of the four reforms carried out in […]
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“The Law on Parties: Confirmed Unconstitutional”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
May 16, 2019
Santo Domingo, D.R. – In its statement number 14/19, dated May 8, 2019, the Constitutional Court announced the decision made in relation to the direct lawsuit of unconstitutionality brought against paragraph III of article 45 in Law 33-18 on Political Parties, Associations, and Movements. Article 45 of this law refers to the selection process for […]
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“Netanyahu and the End of the Two-State Solution”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
April 15, 2019
New York, NY. – During the election campaign there was great uncertainty over whether or not he would be victorious once again. Benny Gantz, a three-star general, who in various occasions commanded Israeli troops against Palestinian insurgents in Gaza, emerged as an unexpected threat. Corruption charges seemed to be an insurmountable obstacle. However, for the […]
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“Bosch and Lilís”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
March 30, 2019
One of the most original stories told by Juan Bosch about Dominican history was his interpretation of Ulises “Lilís” Heureaux’s role in influencing the fate of the country. As a result of the sugar industry’s rise beginning in the 1870s – due to the Cuban migration to Puerto Plata – Lilís represented an effort to […]
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“In Algeria, the Case of Bouteflike”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
March 19, 2019
At 82 years of age, he gets around fragilely in a wheelchair. In the last seven years he has not given a speech to the country. He has not made a single public appearance and his “presence” in official activities is made through photos. He has respiratory problems; a look of confusion and his voice […]
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“Dominican Youth: A Generation with Great Challenges”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
February 25, 2019
In 2015 the number of young people in the world reached historic highs. Among the 7.6 billion people on Earth, about 4.56 billion, or 60 percent of the total population, are under 35 years old. In the Dominican Republic, a country with 10,266,000 inhabitants, more than 6.3 million are people under 35, which is about […]
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“Cocaine Production at an All-Time High”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
February 13, 2019
In June 2018, the Office of National Drug Control Policy released a report showing that in the prior year production of coca had reached record levels in Colombia. As a result, the Trump Administration corresponded with Colombian authorities mandating that they turn the situation around. The President of the United States also threatened to put […]
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“The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
January 17, 2019
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor, remembered for being the last of the Five Good Emperors of the Empire. Included in this group are Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. He wrote The Meditations, a collection of twelve books which, although they are not chronicles, they highlight certain moments of the author’s life. At the […]
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“The United Nations Global Migration Compact”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
January 3, 2019
Last week in Morocco the United Nations Member States approved the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, an initiative promoted by the United Nations Organization. The pact calls for, among other objectives, the strengthening of cooperation systems on international migration; the creation of common goals; shared responsibilities and unit of purpose in all […]
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“Trump, The Dominican Republic and Nationality”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
November 14, 2018
During the midterm elections held in the United States on November 6, President Donald Trump stated that he would end, through an Executive Order, the issuance of U.S. citizenship simply for having been born in the country.
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“Law On Political Parties, Statutes And Constitution”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
October 26, 2018
Opinion makers believe that what is at the core of the debate is a power struggle between two sectors of the organization. For others, what is involved is a struggle to determine if the primaries will be defined by the party’s registry (closed primaries) or, quite the contrary, if the voter registry of the Electoral Board (open primaries) should be used. It will all depend on the convenience of the parties involved.
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“The Global Financial Crisis: One Decade Later”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
October 18, 2018
The financial crisis, which later transformed into a global economic recession and contributed to a terrible debt crisis in Europe, began in the strangest way. It was provoked by the explosion of a bubble created and related to the real estate and mortgage markets in the United States.
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“A Decisive Day for Democracy”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 8, 2018
The strength of the Dominican democratic system will be put to the test today when the Chamber of Deputies faces the proposed Law of Parties, Groupings and Political Movements.
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“Open and Simultaneous Primaries Continue to be Unconstitutional”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
June 11, 2018
Article 42 of the Bill on Political Parties, Groups and Movements, approved by the Senate of the Republic last April, establishes that the only methods by which candidates running for elected positions can be chosen is through open and simultaneous primaries.
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“A World in Turmoil”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
May 28, 2018
In recent days, the United States and the People’s Republic of China, surprisingly agreed to a ceasefire in their trade war. The war began with an increase of tariffs on imports of Chinese household appliances to the North American market, to which steel and aluminum were later added.
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“The PLD Democracy and Development”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
April 18, 2018
Since the proclamation of the independence of the Republic in February 1844, the goal of the Dominican people has always been to be able to establish a democratic, developed, prosperous society that guarantees social welfare for the majority of its population.
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“Internal Primaries and Post-Truth”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
April 16, 2018
When a judgment on constitutional issues is issued and is declared ‘res judicata,’ the judicial procedure is considered as concluded. And, this decision, therefore, is mandatory and binding on all government bodies.
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“Politics in the Age of the Post-Truth”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
March 12, 2018
According to the Oxford dictionary, post-truth is the expression that was most used in 2016. It experienced an increase of more than 2000% with respect to its use in 2015.
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“Constitution, Law and Primary Elections”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
February 23, 2018
Nine political parties that make up the so-called opposition block recently introduced a set of proposals regarding the bill on the political parties and reforms to the electoral law. Among the submitted proposals are those associated with advertising and propaganda; public funding, gender quotas and accountability.
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“Vladimir Guerrero: de Don Gregorio a Cooperstown”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
February 21, 2018
In the middle of the final leg of an intense and passionate competition, not suitable for those with cardiac conditions, between the Águilas Cibaeñas (the Cibao Eagles) and the Tigres del Licey (the Licey Tigers), all of sudden, the greatly anticipated news started to circulate: Vladimir Guerrero had been inducted into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame.
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“The Book That Has Shaken the White House”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
January 26, 2018
Until the time when J.K. Rowling, the renowned British writer, published a series of science fiction novels about the life of Harry Potter, the young apprentice of magic and sorcery, nothing like this had happened in the publishing world.
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“The PLD: Forty Four Years Later”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
December 20, 2017
Upon arriving at its forty-fourth anniversary, the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD for its acronym in Spanish) is in the privileged position of being, until now, the most successful political organization in the history of the Dominican Republic.
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“Concurrent Open Primaries are Unconstitutional”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
December 15, 2017
In articles 36 and 37 of the Political Association and Party Bill introduced by the Central Electoral Board to Congress in February 2017, it is maintained that it is the responsibility of political associations and parties to regulate internal primaries and hold them on dates determined by their governing bodies.
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“An Addendum to the Book on Kennedy and Bosch”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
December 4, 2017
Bernardo Vega, a noted historian, economist, and diplomat recently published an addendum to his book Kennedy y Bosch (Kennedy and Bosch), which was originally published approximately 23 years ago, in 1993.
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“On the 100th Anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
October 26, 2017
Mikhail Gorbachev, the man who was destined to save Socialism in the Soviet Union through the realization of political and economic reforms such as glasnost and perestroika, instead ended up becoming the man who would dig its grave.
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“A Perspective on Age and Maturity”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
September 11, 2017
A paradox comes to mind concerning old age. All aspire to reach it, but once they arrive, they complain distressedly. They claim that it has come quicker than expected, and it has taken them by surprise. They also maintain that there isn’t any type of consolation to sweeten the irritations of elderliness.
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“North Korea: an Absurd Case of Global Geopolitics?”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 22, 2017
The regime of King Jong-un has launched 18 missiles during 12 tests of nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles in February 2017, in spite of the fact that upon his arrival to the White House, President Donald Trump stated that he would end the policy of diplomatic engagement with North Korea practiced by his predecessors.
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“The Great Challenge of Political Parties”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 8, 2017
Two months after the Trujillo assassination in May 1961, the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), formed in exile, sent a delegation made up of Angel Miolán, Nicolás Silfa and Ramón Castillo, its most renowned leaders, to begin the organizational work of establishing the party in the Dominican Republic.
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“Political Party Funding”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
July 21, 2017
Although in some countries of Latin America, such as Uruguay and Costa Rica, mechanisms of regulation had been in place for the use of economic resources in the political arena since the first half of the 20th century, it has been in actuality only since the end of the 1970s that the tendency towards financial regulation of political parties was developed during the regional transition to democratic political systems.
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“The Law of Parties”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
June 19, 2017
Over the course of this week, the commission of senators and deputies charged with studying and analyzing the legislation on political parties and electoral rules will enter a crucial phase. It will start looking at the most controversial and thorny issues to appear in the first of the bills under scrutiny.
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“The IACHR Strikes Again”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
May 8, 2017
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) launched a new attack against the Dominican Republic using erroneous arguments, deploying fallacious concepts, and displaying a worrying bias that could continue to erode its already diminished credibility amongst OAS member states.
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“The True Story Behind Chronicle of a Death Foretold”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
April 17, 2017
Earlier this month the news came out that Miguel Reyes Palencia, Gabriel García Márquez’s inspiration for the character Bayardo San Román in his novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold, had died in Barranquilla, Colombia, at 95 years of age.
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“Populism on the International Stage”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
March 28, 2017
Observers of international politics tend to affirm that popular right-wing figures like Donald Trump in the United States, Marine Le Pen in France, and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands can all be catalogued as populist leaders.
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“Is Globalization Disappearing?”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
March 6, 2017
Within a bit over a month since moving into the White House, president Donald Trump has abandoned the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), the approval of which had been pending in the US Congress; induced the auto firm Ford to return planned offshore investments to the United States; and harped on the need to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico, which he has deemed “the worst trade deal in history.”
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“The Financial Oligarchy in the Age of Trump”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
February 7, 2017
In response to the global financial crisis of 2007/8, which would become the Great Recession, the administration of president Barack Obama submitted a bill to Congress aimed at regulating the US financial system.
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“The Legacy of Obama”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
January 16, 2017
In a few days, on January 20, President Barack Obama will leave the White House and make way for the new administration of president-elect Donald Trump.
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“The PLD: 43 Years Later”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
December 19, 2016
Upon celebrating the 43rd anniversary of its founding, the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) can congratulate itself for being the most successful political organization in the history of the Dominican Republic.
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“My Memories of Fidel”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
December 5, 2016
I met Fidel Castro, the leader of the Cuban Revolution, during the Sixth Iberoamerican Summit in Chile in November of 1996, a few months after assuming office as Dominican head of state.
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“The United States: Between the Electoral College and the Popular Vote”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
November 21, 2016
In the recent US presidential elections the candidate from the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, won 1,312,000 more votes than her opponent from the Republican Party, Donald Trump.
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“The Latino Vote in the US Election”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
November 7, 2016
In the final stretch of the US presidential campaign, all indicators point to the vote among the Latino population being decisive in choosing the next resident of the White House – whether it’s the Democratic Party candidate, Hillary Clinton, or her Republican counterpart, Donald Trump.
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“The Ideology of the PLD”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
October 25, 2016
The ideology of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), developed in terms of a conception of the world and of politics, is expressed in its Declaration of Principles, in the theorizing of Professor Juan Bosch, and in the political practices derived from the party itself and its terms in office.
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“The Hillary Clinton–Donald Trump Debate”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
October 7, 2016
The first debate between Democratic Party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her Republican Party counterpart Donald Trump drew a TV audience of more than 84 million viewers, the most in history for an event of this type.
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“The ECLAC Meeting”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
September 28, 2016
I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Second Meeting of the Conference on Science, Innovation, and Technology for the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in San José, Costa Rica.
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“The Ouster of Dilma: An Act of Chicanery”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
September 5, 2016
Nobody accused Dilma Rousseff, the recently removed president of Brazil, of having committed an act of corruption. No voices were raised against her charging that she’d embezzled public funds for her own benefit. No one alleged bribery, subornation, or fraud.
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“The PLD, Twenty Years In”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 22, 2016
No one knew exactly what would emerge from government under the Purple Party, especially since almost all its members lacked experience in public office. Furthermore, during the years it was coming together during the Cold War, the PLD had come behind national liberation as a strategic objective, and its historical leader, the professor Juan Bosch, had deployed Marxism as an analytic tool in interpreting Dominican society.
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“Clash of Conventions”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 8, 2016
At the end of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 21, alarm bells started ringing in certain quarters. For the first time, Donald Trump, the eccentric businessman chosen as the Republican presidential nominee, was leading in the polls over his Democratic Party rival, Hillary Clinton.
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“Melania’s Plagiarism”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
July 25, 2016
Initially her speech was met with enthusiasm. Her personality radiated charm and elegance. The content of her address was convincing and its tone appropriate. The final round of applause offered proof that her message had hit its mark in the hearts and minds of those present.
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“Brexit: Britain’s Divorce from The European Union”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
July 4, 2016
The issue exerting perhaps the greatest influence in leading many citizens to reconsider their countries’ relationship with the EU has been the impact of the global economic crisis.
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“A Model in Crisis? The Inter-American Human Rights System”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
June 13, 2016
From this Monday, June 13, to Wednesday, June 15, the Dominican Republic will host the 46th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS). This year’s focus is on strengthening institutions for sustainable development in the Americas.
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“The PLD at the Heart of April”, an article by Dr. Leonel Ferná;ndez
April 25, 2016
The 1965 April Revolution was the direct consequence of the September 1963 coup d’état against the government of Dr. Juan Bosch. The two events together marked the end of the first phase of the Dominican Republic’s democratic transition after the collapse of the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo.
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“Obama’s Marc Antony–Style Remarks to the People of Cuba”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
April 4, 2016
President Barack Obama’s recent speech in Havana, Cuba, was an intelligent, diplomatic, and elegant piece of discourse that showcased – to put it almost as he did in the title of his own book – the audacity of daring.
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“The Mystery of Oil Prices”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
March 17, 2016
Over production by OPEC countries and a drop in demand from China has driven down the price of “black gold.” Although in recent weeks, prices have gone up again due to speculation in the futures market.
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“Donald Trump: The Return of Paranoid Politics”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
March 15, 2016
His personality shows a certain air of delusions of grandeur, of arrogance, of egocentrism and megalomania. Everything has his name on it: the Trump jet, Trump Tower, Trump University, Trump Plaza Hotel, Trump Casino …
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“At the Tomb of Karl Marx”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
February 29, 2016
Despite the resounding collapse of the socialist model at the end of the 80s, nearly 200 years after the birth of Karl Marx, his ideas have begun to be vindicated by a diverse and renewed intellectual thought.
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“Haiti’s Electoral Failure and Governance Crisis”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
February 8, 2016
Haiti awoke this Monday with no President of the Republic, no Prime Minister, and no President of the Provisional Electoral Council, thereby generating a situation of uncertainty and confusion.
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“There is no Statelessness in the Dominican Republic”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
January 19, 2016
In a recent Amnesty International report entitled “Without Papers, I Am No One: Stateless People in the Dominican Republic,” the authors charge that in our country there is a situation of statelessness.
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“Dominicans in the U.S.,” an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
January 5, 2016
It’s estimated that there are currently 1.8 million people of Dominican origin residing in the United States, according to an analysis from the Pew Research Center, a social research fact tank. This analysis considers Dominicans to be those born in the Dominican Republic and classed as immigrants in the United States, or those born on U.S. soil to parents of Dominican origin.
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“The Future of the PLD ”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
December 21, 2015
The agreement made by the Political Committee, with the aim of amending the constitution to permit presidential reelection, had resolved that all senators and deputies would be renominated for their offices; that mayors would only need a showing in the polls of a difference of at least 10 percentage points over their internal rivals; and that Council members would be the only ones to remain subject to the decisions of the voters.
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Paris, A Push to Save the Planet, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
December 8, 2015
Despite the multiple terrorist attacks that have recently shaken Paris, the global capital of art and culture, more than 40,000 people have gathered since Monday, November 30, for one of the most important diplomatic summits in history.
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Terror in Paris: The Beginning of the End for Islamic State?, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
November 16, 2015
A few days ago, the world was shaken by barbarous terrorist attacks in Paris, the international center of knowledge, art, and culture. The chaos, despair, and pain extended everywhere, with rage and impotence coloring the feelings of most observers.
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“The New Greek Tragedy: Behold the Market Coup”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
September 14, 2015
As a literary genre, tragedy was born in Greece more than 500 years before Christ, with its three grand masters being Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. In its first stage, the Greek tragedy developed in three acts: a prologue, the different scenes, and an exit ode.
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“The Fragility of the Global Economy”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 31, 2015
Recently the New York financial markets were shaken when the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,000 points before anyone could react, closing at a low of 586 points.
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“An Open Letter to Jimmy Carter”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 17, 2015
A short while ago, for health reasons, you suspended a trip to Guyana, where you were meant to head a delegation to monitor the electoral process in that South American nation, causing the rest of us in the delegation a bit of worry. Our minds were put at ease, however, when we found out that you had almost immediately returned to your everyday labors.
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“The Dominican Republic: An Amnesty of Nationality?”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
August 3, 2015
Despite no convincing evidence has been presented of cases of stateless people in our country, nor unequivocal evidence of mass deportations or humanitarian crises, several sectors of the international community persist in projecting an image of the Dominican Republic as a racist, xenophobic, and segregationist country.
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“Myths About the Regularization Plan”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernádez
June 29, 2015
In an article from June 19, 2015, The New York Times reported that the fears and predictions surrounding a mass deportation of undocumented Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic had dissipated, following the closing of the period for their regularization.
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“The Future of Constitutional Reform”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
June 15, 2015
Initially it was understood that the Constitution of 2010 was conceived as a rigid constitution. This means that as our Magna Carta, and as such occupying a superior position in the legal hierarchy, it should be difficult to reform or amend.
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“Bosch, Aristide, and the United States”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
May 11, 2015
Surprisingly—and without anyone apparently having noticed before—striking similarities exist between the political careers of Juan Bosch and Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Bosch, for example, was chosen in December 1962 as the first democratically elected Dominican president, with more than 60 percent of the vote, following the 30-year dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo.
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“Bosch, the April Revolution, and the Johnson Doctrine”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
April 27, 2015
Exactly half a century ago, on April 28, 1965, U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson ordered the so-called Operation Power Pack, which consisted of a military intervention by the United States in the Dominican Republic, in breach of our sovereignty, independence, and national dignity.
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“Jesus, the Greatest Leader in History”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
April 6, 2015
More than 2,000 years have passed since he was among us. His public life was extremely short, extending over just three decades. He had a team of collaborators of scarcely a dozen people. At the time of his death, his supporters did not exceed more than several hundred. He left no writings.
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“The Party System: Democracy and Popular Hegemony”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
March 23, 2015
In addition to having won the last five consecutive elections—three presidential and two congressional and municipal—with more than 50% of the votes cast, the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) currently appears in various polls with support above 70%.
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“The Plan to Discredit the Buddha”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
February 23, 2015
Plots, intrigues, and warped machinations with the loathsome intent to defame and discredit are as old as the history of humanity itself. This is seen in the case of Siddhartha Gautama, that ancient sage whose teachings would become the basis of Buddhism.
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“From Great Pessimism to the Great Change”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
February 3, 2015
Under the auspices of the Dominican Popular Bank, the eminent national historian Frank Moya Pons has recently published a new book, entitled The Great Change: Social and Economic Transformation in the Dominican Republic, 1963–2013.
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“Pedro the Great: From Manoguayabo to Cooperstown”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
January 19, 2015
Under the direction of Felipe Rojas Alou at the Montreal Expos, the Dominican pitcher Pedro Martínez vaulted to stardom, winning the first of his three Cy Young Awards.
