Santo Domingo.- On a day like today in 1998, José Francisco Peña Gómez passed away, considered along with other politicians such as Juan Bosch, one of the most important and outstanding figures of Dominican politics of the 20th century.
He was born on March 6, 1937 in the Valverde province, Dominican Republic and was a great writer, admired by many politicians, students and intellectuals in the country.
Political life
Since the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo ended, Balaguer became an ally of Juan Bosch, who at that time was the leader of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD).
As is known, Bosch won the presidential elections in 1962, but his government was defeated on September 25, 1963.
In 1965, through the radio, the medium to which he was dedicated at that time, Peña Gómez asked for Bosch’s return to power.
This is how the country is invaded by military troops sent by the then president of the United States, Lyndon Johnson, with the aim of preventing a communist movement in the country, to which Peña Gomez reacted by using his skills as a speaker to show his clear opposition. .
After a day of struggle, a forced agreement was reached in which Joaquín Balaguer was elected as president and the PRD in a 12-year opposition.
During that time, from France, Peña Gómez dedicated himself to building relationships and studying political science.
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PRD leader
Shortly before 1973, Bosch and Peña Gómez had something of a disagreement, which resulted in the departure of the then leader of the party.
This is how the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) in the hands of Bosch and the PRD begins to have its most important moment in the hands of Peña Gómez.
The PRD won the presidential elections of 1978 with Antonio Guzmán and 1982 with Salvador Jorge Blanco, and he himself was mayor of Santo Domingo from 1982 to 1986.
But the party did not respond to him in a pleasant way, since in 1986, with the argument of some of its leaders that it would be impossible for a black man, especially one of Haitian descent, to become president. Peña lost the primaries to Jacobo Majluta, after a violent revolt known as the concordazo.
From here, Peña Gómez tried on several occasions to obtain the presidency of the Republic, which was not possible. But, in the process several agreements were reached, many of which are still valid today, such as: establishing a double round if no candidate obtained 50 percent plus one of the votes and separating it from the municipal elections and congressional.
He died of pulmonary edema on May 10, 1998 at his home in Cambita Garabito, San Cristóbal.
