Santo Domingo.- The year 2025 will be inscribed in the collective memory of theto Dominican Republic as one of the most intense, convulsive and determining in recent decades. human tragediesjudicial scandalsepisodes of state violenceinstitutional crises and high-impact political decisions marked a national agenda full of tension and reflection.
The social commotion started early with case of young Sudiksha Konankiwhose death shook public opinion and revived the debate about security, violence and the response of the justice system to crimes that shock citizens.
Added to this fact was the Jet Set tragedywhich left fatalities and put safety conditions in nighttime entertainment venues under scrutiny.
Another episode that generated national outrage was the death of Stephora Anne-Mircie Josephas well as a chain of violent events which culminated in the death of at least five people at the hands of police officers in the La Barranquita sector, in Santiagoduring an operation that sparked protests, questions about the use of force and urgent calls for deeper police reform.
At the institutional level, the country experienced a national blackout that paralyzed essential services and showed the fragility of the electrical system, while massive failures in traffic lights They aggravated road chaos in the main cities, fueling citizen unrest.
The judicial field was the protagonist with high-profile processes. The condemnation of Alexis Medinamarked a symbolic milestone in the fight against corruption. At the same time, the Hugo Beras case and other files for administrative corruption They reinforced the perception of a more active judicial system, although still under public scrutiny.
One of the most sensitive scandals was the Operation Cobrawhich involved National Health Insurance (Senasa), a case that shook the country for touching the heart of the social protection system and calling into question the management of resources intended for the health of the most vulnerable.
In the midst of this climate, the Executive Branch promulgated the new Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Codelong-debated reforms that were valued by sectors as an institutional advance, but also questioned by others for their gaps and scope.
On the political front, the president Luis Abinader starred in an unprecedented event when meeting with former Dominican leaders to agree on a collaboration agreement against the migration crisissending a signal of national unity on a historically sensitive issue. This decision marked a turning point in the way of addressing structural challenges of the State.
The year was also marked by natural phenomena, such as Storm Melissawhich left material damage, affected communities and once again put the country’s climate vulnerability on the agenda.
Finally, the implementation of the new identity and electoral cards It represented a far-reaching institutional change, with an impact on democratic processes and the modernization of the State.
He Wander Franco case It also marked the judicial and social pulse of the year, by remaining at the center of the public debate due to the serious accusations faced by the star Dominican baseball player, whose career in the Major Leagues was practically paralyzed.
The process, followed closely in both the Dominican Republic and the United States, reopened discussions on abuse, criminal liability, use of fame and protection of minorsin addition to causing a strong impact on national sports. Beyond the judicial sphere, the case generated a profound social commotion, tearing down the image of one of the most promising idols of Dominican baseball and becoming a symbol of how early success does not exempt the weight of the law or public judgment.
