Today marks the 116th birthday of former President Joaquín Balaguer

Santo Domingo.- Today, September 1, 2025, the Dominican Republic commemorates the 116th birthday of former President Joaquín Balaguer, one of the country’s most influential and controversial leaders. Balaguer holds the distinction of being the only Dominican politician sworn in seven times as President of the Republic and the only one declared the winner of six elections, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s political history.

Born on September 1, 1906, in Villa Bisonó, Navarrete, Santiago, Balaguer was a lawyer, intellectual, poet, essayist, and politician. He earned a doctorate in law at the Sorbonne University in France and held key positions during the Trujillo dictatorship, including Foreign Minister and Secretary of Education, while also authoring numerous literary works. He also authored numerous literary works addressing social, cultural, and political issues, establishing himself as a major cultural figure in the Dominican Republic.

Balaguer began his political career in the 1930s and first assumed the presidency in 1960. He was sworn in following the resignation of Héctor Trujillo and was in office when Rafael Leónidas Trujillo was assassinated in 1961. After a brief exile, he returned during the 1965 civil war and was elected president in 1966, marking the beginning of three consecutive terms until 1978. He later returned to power in 1986, serving until 1996, making him the only Dominican politician sworn in seven times as president and declared the winner of six elections.

During his administrations, Balaguer oversaw major infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, and housing, significantly modernizing the country. However, his tenure was also marked by authoritarianism and political repression, generating debate about his legacy. In 1994, a post-election crisis led to the Pact of Democracy, which reduced his term to two years and fostered political agreements with opposition parties.

Balaguer remained a prominent political and cultural figure until his death on July 14, 2002, at the age of 95. His influence spans politics, literature, and diplomacy, leaving a complex legacy as both a statesman who promoted national development and a controversial leader associated with restrictions on democratic freedoms. Over a century after his birth, Joaquín Balaguer continues to occupy a central place in the memory and history of the Dominican Republic.