On August 16th the president Luis Abinader will begin a new period of government, and at the same time enters the privileged circle of presidents who have remained in power the longest in the 180 years of republican life.
The president won his first election in May 2020 and emerged victorious in the tournament held this year for a new term that ends in August 2028.
The dictator Rafael L. Trujillo He remained in power for 30 years in four periods between 1930 and 1952. He took over the government in 1930 through a coup d’état that deposed President Horacio Vásquez. From the beginning, he was characterized by applying a policy of fear and persecution.
You can read: Names of the presidents and special guests who will attend Abinader’s inauguration
The multiple murder of the Mirabal sisters and their driver Rufino de la Cruz, is among the cruelest events committed by his regime.
Joaquin Balaguer He held the highest office in the State on seven occasions, in the period 1960-62, on the eve of the tyrant’s execution, and later, in a first cycle he governed for 12 years, between 1966-78 and in the second period of 10 years between 1986-96.
In third place there is a tie between Buenaventura Báez and Ulises Hereaux, who governed for 14 years each. Báez’s administration was in five periods between 1865-1878 and Hereaux in two periods 1882-84 and 1887-1899, the last year in which he was assassinated. In the case of Lilís, he is reported as a cruel and bloodthirsty ruler.
Leonel Fernandezis the fifth longest-serving ruler: 12 years, spanning three periods 1996-2000 and 2004-12. In the 1996 electoral tournament, Fernández and his PLD party were in third place and thanks to Balaguer’s economic and militant support, they managed to defeat the PRD leader, José Francisco Peña Gómez, in the second round.
The sixth place corresponds to Danilo Medinawho served two terms from 2012-20. In the latter year, he failed in his bid for re-election when a feverish opposition from home and abroad thwarted his aspirations. Instead, he chose Gonzalo Castillo as his presidential candidate, alongside Margarita Cedeño.
In seventh place is Luis Abinader who in a week will assume the presidency of the Republic for a new term that ends in 2028.
Sum of 101 years
In short, of the 55 leaders that the nation has had in its republican life, only seven, including Abinader, have led the country’s destiny for a total of 101 years.
