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Danilo Medina

2025-09-25T01:23:57Z

2001:1308:250D:1700:FC1A:1293:EA30:7D33: fixed info

{{short description|President of the Dominican Republic from 2012 to 2020}}
{{family name hatnote|Medina|Sánchez|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[His Excellency]]
| honorific-suffix =
| name = Danilo Medina
| image = V Cumbre CELAC- República Dominicana (32130698470) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Medina in 2017
| office = 53rd [[President of the Dominican Republic]]
| term_start = 16 August 2012
| term_end = 16 August 2020
| predecessor = [[Leonel Fernández]]
| successor = [[Luis Abinader]]
| vicepresident = [[Margarita Cedeño de Fernández]]
| office1 = Secretary of State of the Presidency
| term_start1 = 16 August 2004
| term_end1 = 8 November 2006
| predecessor1 = Sergio Grullón
| president1 = [[Leonel Fernández]]
| successor1 = César Pina Toribio
| predecessor2 = Rafael Bello Andino
| president2 = [[Leonel Fernández]]
| successor2 = Alejandrina Germán
| term_start2 = 16 August 1996
| term_end2 = 16 August 1999
| office3 = [[List of Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic|President]] of the [[Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic|Chamber of Deputies]]
| term_start3 = 16 August 1994
| term_end3 = 16 August 1995
| predecessor3 = Norge Botello
| successor3 = Ramón Fadul
| office4 = [[President pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States|President pro tempore of CELAC]]
| term_start4 = 28 January 2016
| term_end4 = 26 January 2017
| predecessor4 = [[Rafael Correa]]
| successor4 = [[Salvador Sánchez Cerén]]
| party = [[Dominican Liberation Party]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|11|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bohechío]], Dominican Republic
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Cándida Montilla de Medina|Cándida Montilla]]|1987}}
| relatives = [[Lucía Medina]] (sister) <br /> [[Francisco Caamaño]] (second-cousin)
| alma_mater = [[Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo]]
| website =
* {{URL|http://www.danilomedina.do/|Personal website}}
* {{URL|https://twitter.com/Danilo Medina|Personal Twitter}}
| signature = Firma-Danilo-Medina.svg
}}
'''Danilo Medina Sánchez''' ({{IPA|es-419|daˈnilo meˈðina ˈsantʃes}}; born 10 November 1951) is a [[Politics of the Dominican Republic|Dominican politician]] who was [[President of the Dominican Republic]] from 2012 to 2020.

Medina previously served as Chief of Staff to the President of the Dominican Republic from 1996 to 1999 and from 2004 to 2006, and is a member of the [[Dominican Liberation Party]] (PLD). He won the [[2012 Dominican Republic presidential election|May 2012 Dominican presidential election]], defeating [[Hipólito Mejía|Hipòlito Mejía]] with 51% of the votes. On 15 May 2016, Danilo Medina leading a coalition of parties won the [[2016 Dominican Republic general election|2016 Dominican presidential election]], defeating the leader of the opposition and [[Modern Revolutionary Party|PRM]] candidate [[Luis Abinader]] with 61.8% of the votes, the highest percentage received by a president elected in free elections since [[1924 Dominican Republic general election|1924]] when [[Horacio Vásquez]] won the presidency with 69.8% of the ballots—surpassing [[Juan Bosch (politician)|Juan Bosch]]'s record of 59.5% obtained in [[1962 Dominican Republic general election|1962]], and [[Leonel Fernández]]'s 57.1% of the votes obtained in [[2004 Dominican Republic presidential election|2004]].

Medina's second term has been characterized as humane, transparent and goal-driven by its supporters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guerrero |first=Jose |date=10 March 2018 |title=Danilo Medina y su excelente obra de Gobierno |trans-title=Danilo Medina and his excellent Government work |url=https://elnuevodiario.com.do/danilo-medina-excelente-obra-gobierno/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306220008/https://elnuevodiario.com.do/danilo-medina-excelente-obra-gobierno/ |archive-date=6 March 2022 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=El Nuevo Diario |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 February 2020 |title=Danilo Medina y su balance de gobierno |trans-title=Danilo Medina and his balance of government |url=https://www.revistamercado.do/danilo-medina-y-su-balance-de-gobierno/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204200624/https://www.revistamercado.do/politica/nacional/danilo-medina-y-su-balance-de-gobierno |archive-date=4 December 2021 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=Revista Mercado |language=es}}</ref> With a penchant for performing weekly visits to impoverished rural sections of the country, President Medina finished his second term with a 65% approval rate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guzmán Then |first=Abel |date=4 July 2019 |title=Resaltan popularidad de Danilo Medina, quien se acerca a jóvenes influencers |trans-title=Danilo Medina's popularity stands out as he takes an interest in young influencers |url=https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/politica/resaltan-popularidad-de-danilo-medina-quien-se-acerca-a-jovenes-influencers-FI13287442 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609095028/https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/politica/resaltan-popularidad-de-danilo-medina-quien-se-acerca-a-jovenes-influencers-FI13287442 |archive-date=9 June 2022 |access-date=26 August 2023 |website=Diario Libre |language=es}}</ref> However, during his second term there were attempts to seek a third term which was frustrated after a call from the [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Mike Pompeo]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 July 2019 |title=Secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos advierte a Danilo Medina sobre modificar la Constitución |trans-title=U.S. Secretary of State warns Danilo Medina about amending Constitution |url=https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/politica/secretario-de-estado-de-estados-unidos-advierte-a-danilo-medina-sobre-modificar-la-constitucion-GE13353489 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826031943/https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/politica/secretario-de-estado-de-estados-unidos-advierte-a-danilo-medina-sobre-modificar-la-constitucion-GE13353489 |archive-date=26 August 2023 |access-date=26 August 2023 |website=Diario Libre |language=es}}</ref>

Medina's family, including two of his brothers, are currently being investigated under allegations of corruption, involving traffic of influence by which they benefited under Medina presidency, obtaining multiple contracts and business with the State. {{As of|2020|November}}, the investigation process had entered a new phase following the arrests of two of Medina's brothers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=29 November 2020|title=Attorney General arrests two brothers of former Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina|url=https://dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2020/11/29/attorney-general-arrests-two-brothers-of-former-dominican-republic-president-danilo-medina/|access-date=2020-12-18|website=DominicanToday|language=en}}</ref>

==Early years==
Medina was born in [[Bohechío|Arroyo Cano]], [[San Juan Province (Dominican Republic)|San Juan Province]], in the southwest of the [[Dominican Republic]]. He is the oldest of eight brothers born to Juan Pablo Medina de los Santos (1918–2019) and Amelia Sánchez Abreu (1931–2004). Since he was 18 years old he was a student leader, founding the San Juan de la Maguana branch of the Frente Revolucionario Estudiantil Nacionalista at the UASD. When Professor [[Juan Bosch (politician)|Juan Bosch]] founded the Partido de la Liberación Dominicana in 1973. Medina joined him. He studied economics at [[Instituto Tecnológico Santo Domingo (INTEC)]], and graduated [[magna cum laude]] in 1984. He has been a member of the Central Committee of the PLD since 1983. In 1986 election he was elected a deputy in Congress. In 1987, he married [[psychologist]] [[Cándida Montilla de Medina|Cándida Montilla]] and has three daughters, Sibeli, Vanessa and Ana Paula.

==Career during the 1990s and 2000s==
[[File:Montasmeeting.jpg|right|thumb|200px| Economic meeting with President Leonel Fernandez and the Ministry of the Presidency Danilo Medina at the National Palace.]]
In 1990, Medina was elected member of the Political Committee of the [[Dominican Liberation Party]] (PLD) together with [[Leonel Fernández]] and [[Juan Temístocles Montás]]. He was selected by his political organization to be the President of the Chamber of Deputies in the [[Dominican Republic]].

He was [[List of Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic|President]] of the [[Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic]] from 1994 to 1995,<ref name="camaradediputados.gob.do">{{cite web |url=http://www.camaradediputados.gob.do/app/app_2011/HCD/TOMO1.pdf |title=Historia de la Cámara de Diputados - TOMO I. 1844-1978 |last1=Checo |first1=José Chez |last2=Sang |first2=Mu-Kien Adriana |website=www.camaradediputados.gob.do |access-date=19 May 2019 |archive-date=2 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902183226/http://www.camaradediputados.gob.do/app/app_2011/HCD/TOMO1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and subsequently served as Secretary of State of the Presidency from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2004 to 2006.

As president of the Chamber of Deputies in the National Congress (1990–94), he was a key figure in congressional negotiations that led to the resolving of the 1994 political impasse. In that year, a close finish between [[Joaquín Balaguer]] and [[José Francisco Peña Gómez]] brought about a major conflict, as one side accused the other of fraud. The conflict was resolved with a pact that instituted separate presidential and congressional elections, the need for a candidate to receive 50%+1 of the vote to win in a first round, and prohibited presidential re-election. The agreement eventually worked in favor of the PLD, which won the presidential in the 1996 election, with Leonel Fernández defeating José Francisco Peña Gómez in a second round.

Medina is considered{{by whom|date=October 2015}} the PLD's leading political strategist and negotiator. As such, he was one of the leaders of the presidential campaign of President Fernández. He was appointed Secretary of the Presidency in 1996 and was one of the President's closest aides. In 2000, with Fernández barred from reelection (at the time, Dominican presidents could not immediately succeed themselves), Medina was the presidential candidate of the PLD. He finished a distant second behind opposition candidate [[Hipólito Mejía]] of the [[Dominican Revolutionary Party]] (PRD), taking only 24.9 percent of the vote to Mejía's 49.87 percent. However, Medina concluded he had no chance of overcoming Mejía's nearly 25-point first-round lead, especially after third-place finisher Balaguer hinted some of his supporters would vote for the PRD in the runoff. Medina would have needed nearly all of Balaguer's supporters in order to overcome his massive first-round deficit. Realizing that he would be lucky to get half of them in the runoff, Medina conceded the presidency to Mejía. In his concession speech, Medina said that a runoff would not be in the country's best interest.<ref name=shuns>{{cite news| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/19/world/dominican-wins-presidency-as-opponent-shuns-runoff.html | title = Dominican Wins Presidency As Opponent Shuns Runoff | access-date = 2010-05-15 | date = 2000-05-19 | work=[[The New York Times]] | first=David | last=Gonzalez}}</ref>

As President Fernández acceded to a second term in 2004, Medina was once again appointed Secretary of the Presidency (Equivalent to Chief of Staff) and considered second in command on internal corridors of Government. As a new election approached in 2008, Medina was considered the main competition for President Fernández, as he was considered by some to have complete political control of the ruling party, the PLD. He resigned from the post on 8 November 2006 in order to launch his bid for the PLD presidential nomination against President Fernández.

After running a campaign under the slogans "Ahora Es" and "Lo Mejor Para Todos" ("Now Is the Time" and "The Best for Everybody") Medina was eventually defeated by President Fernández in the 6 May 2007 PLD internal election to choose the party's candidate for the 2008 presidential election. Since its foundation the PLD had maintained an implicit non re-election policy, but President Fernández changed that allowing him to campaign against Medina from the Presidential Palace and opt for a second consecutive term in power (his third).

In the internal PLD vote Medina obtained 28.45% of the votes against President Fernández' 71.55%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/pld-emite-ltimo-boletn-de-elecciones-internas-EKDL135111|title=PLD emite último boletín de elecciones internas|work=Diario Libre|language=es|date=10 May 2007|access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> Minor irregularities were confirmed during the election process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pciudadana.com/noticias/not_2007/05072007_informe_pld.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514141941/http://pciudadana.com/noticias/not_2007/05072007_informe_pld.htm|archive-date=14 May 2008 |title= Informe de Observación del congreso Elector del Partido de la Liberación Dominicana (PLD)|language=es|date=7 May 2007|work=Participación Ciudadana}}</ref> In the evening of 6 May 2007, Medina made a brief public appearance saying he had been "beaten by the state" (in reference to the fact that government resources had been used to suppress his candidacy and to promote that of Fernández).
[[File:DaniloMargaritaCaravana.jpg|right|thumb|200px|First Lady [[Margarita Cedeño de Fernández|Margarita Cedeño]] and Danilo Medina together in caravan march around the Dominican Republic in March 2012]]
Subsequently, Medina and his supporters maintained a low profile. During this period he was considered the most likely contender for the PLD candidacy in the [[2012 Dominican Republic presidential election|2012 Dominican presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2011/2/23/178579/Gallup-otorga-a-Danilo-621-a-Hipolito-un-526-y-a-Amable-un-518 |title=Gallup otorga a Danilo 62.1%, a Hipólito un 52.6% y a Amable un 51.8% |publisher=Listin.com.do }}</ref>

==President of the Dominican Republic==
Medina ran for and was elected [[President of the Dominican Republic]] in the [[2012 Dominican Republic presidential election|2012 Dominican presidential election]], that ended on the morning of 21 May, with 51.24% of the votes defeating [[Hipólito Mejía]], his 2000 election rival.<ref>{{cite web|author=Santo Domingo |url=http://www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2012/5/21/233283/Decimo-Boletin-de-la-JCE-PLD-5124-y-PRD-4693 |title=Décimo Boletín de la JCE: PLD 51.24% y PRD 46.93% |publisher=Listin.com.do |date=21 May 2012 }}</ref> While running for office Medina's thesis was criticized for suspected plagiarism by Génove Gneco, the professor coordinating the Office against plagiarism in the thesis, of the [[Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo]]. Gneco also investigated the thesis of senator [[Félix Bautista (politician)|Félix Bautista]] and Minister of Economic Affairs [[Juan Temístocles Montás]]. He was later removed from his position for overstepping his limits and not being able to prove his claims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/12306/56/Cancelan-profesor-por-decir-que-Danilo-Felix-Bautista-y-Temistocles-plagiaron-tesis.html |title=Cancelan profesor por decir que Danilo, Félix Bautista y Temístocles plagiaron tesis |language=es |publisher=Acento |date=8 February 2012 |access-date=5 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019172940/http://www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/12306/56/Cancelan-profesor-por-decir-que-Danilo-Felix-Bautista-y-Temistocles-plagiaron-tesis.html |archive-date=19 October 2013 }}</ref>
Medina vowed to fight corruption, create jobs and invest in education in the Caribbean nation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dominican Republic's president Danilo Medina sworn in|work=BBC News|date=16 August 2012|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-19290474|access-date=16 August 2012}}</ref> In the [[2016 Dominican Republic general election|2016 Dominican presidential election]], Medina was re-elected for a second term, defeating the leader of the opposition and [[Modern Revolutionary Party|PRM]] candidate [[Luis Abinader]] with 61.8% of the votes.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ahrens|first=Jan Martínez|date=2016-05-17|title=Danilo Medina es reelegido en República Dominicana|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2016/05/14/actualidad/1463192384_723588.html|access-date=2021-05-23|issn=1134-6582}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-24|title=Danilo Medina, el "presidente más popular" de América Latina, gana la reelección en República Dominicana|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2016/05/160511_finde_elecciones_dominicana_danilo_medina_ilm|access-date=2021-05-23|website=BBC News Mundo|language=es}}</ref>
[[File:Secretary Clinton Meets With Dominican Republic President Medina (8019622934).jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Hillary Clinton]] and Danilo Medina]]
[[File:Presidente Lula recibe a Danilo Medina.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Lula da Silva]] and Danilo Medina]]
His government aligned itself with that of the [[United States]] in international relations. On Venezuela, he refused to recognise President Nicolas Maduro and supported Juan Guaido, an opposition leader. He and other pro-US Caribbean leaders were summoned to a meeting with [[Donald Trump]] in March 2019 to define a common policy on the situation in Venezuela and China's "predatory economic practices".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/martinique/crise-au-venezuela-donald-trump-convoque-5-pays-caraibe-692294.html|title = Crise au Venezuela : Donald Trump convoque 5 pays de la Caraïbe}}</ref>

Following his term in office, Medina's family is currently being investigated for using political and family ties to accumulate wealth during his term as president. The process is being overseen by PEPCA (Government anti-corruption prosecution) and the [[Deputy Attorney General]] of the Dominican Republic. {{As of|2020|November}}, the investigation moved into a new stage with the arrest of two of Medina's brothers.<ref name=":0" />

==Ancestry==
According to genealogist Sinecio Ramírez Suazo, Danilo Medina is allegedly descended from [[Francisco del Rosario Sánchez]], founding father of the Dominican Republic. If true, Medina would be the first Dominican President descended from one of the [[La Trinitaria (Dominican Republic)|Founding Fathers]]; however, genealogist Edwin Espinal argues that Medina's great-great-great-grandfather Dionisio Sánchez Herrera could not be the son of Juan Francisco Sánchez de Peña (Francisco del Rosario Sánchez's son) since Sánchez Herrera was born in 1840 and Sánchez de Peña in 1852.<ref>{{cite news|title=Genealogía materna del presidente Danilo Medina|url=http://hoy.com.do/genealogia-materna-del-presidente-danilo-medina/|work=Instituto Dominicano de Genealogía|publisher=Hoy|language=es|date=31 August 2012|access-date=13 December 2013|author=Edwin Espinal}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*[http://www.cidob.org/biografias_lideres_politicos/america_central_y_caribe/republica_dominicana/danilo_medina_sanchez Biography by CIDOB] (in Spanish)

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|do-dpt}}
{{s-bef|before=Norge Botello}}
{{s-ttl|title=President of the [[Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic|Chamber of Deputies]]|years=1994–1995}}
{{s-aft|after=Ramón Fadul}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Rafael Bello Andino}}
{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of State of the Presidency|years=1996–1999}}
{{s-aft|after=Alejandrina Germán}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Sergio Grullón}}
{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of State of the Presidency|years=2004–2006}}
{{s-aft|after=César Pina Toribio}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Leonel Fernández]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of the Dominican Republic]]|years=2012–2020}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Luis Abinader]]}}
|-
{{s-dip}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Rafael Correa]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States|President pro tempore of CELAC]]|years=2016–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Salvador Sánchez Cerén]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Presidents of the Dominican Republic}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Medina, Danilo}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Dominican Liberation Party politicians]]
[[Category:Dominican Republic economists]]
[[Category:Dominican Republic people of Spanish descent]]
[[Category:Government ministers of the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Bohechío]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Presidents pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States]]
[[Category:Santo Domingo Institute of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:White Dominicans]]
[[Category:21st-century Dominican Republic politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Dominican Republic politicians]]

Leonel Fernández

2025-09-25T00:44:07Z

2001:1308:250D:1700:FC1A:1293:EA30:7D33: fixed info

{{Short description|President of the Dominican Republic (1996–2000; 2004–2012)}}
{{for|the Guatemalan Olympic sport shooter|Leonel Fernández (sport shooter)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{family name hatnote|Fernández|Reyna|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[Excellency|His Excellency]]
| name = Leonel Fernández
| office = 50th & 52nd [[President of the Dominican Republic]]
| image = Reunión de expresidentes (27782591751) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Fernández in 2016
| alt = A portrait shot of a middle-aged man smiling somewhat and looking straight ahead. He has light brown skin, slightly African facial features, curly dark hair. He is mustachioed and wears a suit and tie.
| predecessor = [[Hipólito Mejía]]
| successor = [[Danilo Medina]]
| vicepresident = [[Rafael Alburquerque]]
| signature = FirmaLF.jpg
| signature_alt = Leonel Fernández
| party = [[People's Force]] (since 2019)
| otherparty = [[Dominican Liberation Party]] (1973–2019)
| predecessor1 = [[Joaquín Balaguer]]
| successor1 = [[Hipólito Mejía]]
| vicepresident1 = [[Jaime David Fernández Mirabal]]
| office2 = [[Second Gentleman]] of the [[Dominican Republic]]
| vicepresident2 = [[Margarita Cedeño de Fernández]]
| term_start2 = 16 August 2012
| term_end2 = 16 August 2020
| term_label2 = In role
| predecessor2 = Martha Montes de Oca (as ''Second Lady'')
| successor2 = ''vacant''
| birth_name = Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1953|12|26}}
| birth_place = [[Santo Domingo]], [[Dominican Republic]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Yolanda Robles Peña|1978|1980|reason=div.}}
* {{marriage|Rocío Domínguez Quezada|1987|1996|reason=div.}}
* {{marriage|[[Margarita Cedeño|Margarita Cedeño Lizardo]]|2003|2022|reason=div.}}
}}
| children = Nicole, [[Omar Fernández (politician)|Omar]] (senator) and Yolanda América María
| relations = [[Piedad Quezada]], Mayor of Jarabacoa (ex-mother-in-law)
| alma_mater = [[Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo]]
| term_start = 16 August 2004
| term_end = 16 August 2012
| term_start1 = 16 August 1996
| term_end1 = 16 August 2000
| office3 = President of the [[World Federation of United Nations Associations]]
| term_start3 = 20 November 2018
| term_end3 = 11 November 2022
| term_label3 = In office
| predecessor3 = [[Park Soo-gil]] {{flagicon|KOR}}
| successor3 =
| office4 = President of the [[Dominican Liberation Party]]
| term_start4 = 20 January 2002
| term_end4 = 20 October 2019
| term_label4 = In office
| predecessor4 = [[Juan Bosch (politician)|Juan Bosch]]
| successor4 = [[Temístocles Montás]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.leonelfernandez.com/}}
* {{URL|https://twitter.com/LeonelFernandez|Personal Twitter}}
| module = 
}}
'''Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna''' ({{Audio|En-us-Leonel Fernandez from Dominican Republic pronunciation (Voice of America).ogg|Pronunciation of "Leonel Fernández"|help=no}}) (born 26 December 1953) is a [[Dominican Republic|Dominican]] lawyer, academic, and was the 50th and 52nd [[President of the Dominican Republic]] from 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2012. From 2016 until 2020, he was the President of the [[EU–LAC Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web|title=EU- LAC Foundation: Former President of Dominican Republic Leonel Fernandez will chair Bi-regional Foundation|url=http://www.cancilleria.gob.ec/eu-lac-foundation-former-president-of-dominican-republic-leonel-fernandez-will-chair-bi-regional-foundation/|publisher=Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana de Ecuador|access-date=19 September 2016|archive-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011042318/http://www.cancilleria.gob.ec/eu-lac-foundation-former-president-of-dominican-republic-leonel-fernandez-will-chair-bi-regional-foundation/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Fernández became the first elected president of the Dominican Republic under his political party, the [[Dominican Liberation Party]] (''Partido de la Liberación Dominicana'', or PLD), although party founder [[Juan Bosch (politician)|Juan Bosch]] was also sworn in as president in 1963 after the first democratic elections held in roughly four decades in the country. Fernández's administrations have focused much on technological and infrastructural development and macroeconomic and monetary stability. He has served as the party president of the Dominican Liberation Party from 2001 until his resignation on 20 October 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Aquino|first=Juan Carlos Mejía|date=2019-10-20|title=Leonel Fernández presenta su formal renuncia del PLD {{!}} Hoy Digital|url=https://hoy.com.do/leonel-fernandez-presenta-su-formal-renuncia-del-pld/|access-date=2021-05-23|language=es}}</ref> He later founded the [[People's Force]] and nominated himself as its party's presidential nominee.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Campos|first=Niza|title=Conocerán el lunes solicitud cambio de nombre del PTD por La Fuerza del Pueblo|url=https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/politica/conoceran-el-lunes-solicitud-cambio-de-nombre-del-ptd-por-la-fuerza-del-pueblo-LD15708535|access-date=2021-05-23|website=www.diariolibre.com|date=5 December 2019 |language=es-ES}}</ref>

He is a native of Villa Juana, [[Distrito Nacional]] and lived for much of his childhood and early adulthood in New York City.

Leonel Fernández is a former the President of the [[World Federation of United Nations Associations]] (2018-2022) and a member of the Inter-American Dialogue.

==Early life==
Fernandez is the son of [[sergeant major]] José Antonio Fernández Collado and Yolanda Reyna Romero. In 1962, his family moved to New York City in the United States. They lived most of the time in the [[Washington Heights, Manhattan|Washington Heights]] neighborhood,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2011/02/25/leonel-fernandez-president-dominican-republic-urges-bicultural-youth-connect/ |title=Leonel Fernández Urges Bicultural Youth to Connect With Dominican Republic |date=25 February 2011 |access-date=4 August 2011 |publisher=Fox News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504083144/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2011/02/25/leonel-fernandez-president-dominican-republic-urges-bicultural-youth-connect/ |archive-date=4 May 2011 }}</ref> a dense [[Manhattan]] neighborhood, home to many Dominican New Yorkers.

After he finished high school, Fernandez returned to his country in 1968 and started law studies in the [[Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo]].<ref name="bio1">{{cite web|url=http://www.copdes.gov.do/documentos/Bio_Leonel_Fernandez.pdf|title=Dr. Leonel Fernández|author=COPDES|language=es|access-date=4 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313141723/http://www.copdes.gov.do/documentos/Bio_Leonel_Fernandez.pdf|archive-date=13 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He joined the [[Dominican Liberation Party]] when it was founded in 1973 by former Dominican President [[Juan Bosch (politician)|Juan Bosch]], leaving the [[Dominican Revolutionary Party]] (PRD) to do so. Fernández was known as a close pupil of Bosch. He accompanied him as a vice-presidential candidate in the 1994 presidential election.<ref name="bio1" />

==First presidential term (1996–2000)==
[[File:Con LF1.jpg|thumb|left|Leonel Fernández in 1996]]

The 1994 presidential election results, which resulted in a reelection of President [[Joaquín Balaguer]], were widely opposed by runner-up opposition leader [[José Francisco Peña Gómez]] and his party.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} In the meantime, the international community rose their concerns on the tightening of the political tensions and fear the country was on the verge of a civil uprising. Upon an official agreement widely known as "Pact for Democracy" ("Pacto por la Democracia" in Spanish) a special election was scheduled for May 1996 and President Balaguer acceded to not run in this election as part of the arranged treaty.<ref name="República Dominicana 2006. Page 3">Morgan, Jana and Espinal, Rosario (2006) [http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/dr/2006-culturapolitica.pdf Cultura política de la democracia en la República Dominicana]. p. 3.</ref> PRSC opted to present Vice-president [[Jacinto Peynado]] as their candidate,<ref>Grullón, Sandino (2006) ''Historia electoral dominicana : siglo XX 1900–2004''. Imp. Servicios Gráficos Tito. {{ISBN|8495119226}}.</ref> however PRSC supporters feared he was not properly endorsed by their historical leader, therefore creating a vast independent mass of electors.<ref name="República Dominicana 2006. Page 3"/>

In the first-round election on 16 May 1996 Fernández received 38.9% of the votes in the first round achieving second place behind [[José Francisco Peña Gómez]] and PRD.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} Peynado obtained 15% of the votes, the lowest outcome in Balaguer's party history which initiated a long-term downfall. After 2010 Presidential election, PRSC lost briefly its official recognition as a majority party, but regained it after an alliance with PLD was announced by Leonel Fernández for 2010 mid-term elections, in where both parties achieved 100% of Senate positions and obtained over 2/3 of the seats on the Chamber of Deputies.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} In the run-off election, held on 30 June 1996, the "Patriotic Front" integrated, and Fernández thus secured 51.2% of the votes to win the election.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} He was sworn in as president on 16 August 1996, succeeding Balaguer.

During his term in office, Fernández's political agenda was one of economic and critical reform. He helped enhance Dominican participation in hemispheric forums, such as the [[Organization of American States]] and the [[Summit of the Americas]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} The Dominican economy enjoyed an average growth rate of seven percent, the highest in Latin America for that period, and was among the highest in the world along with [[South Korea]]'s and the [[People's Republic of China]]'s.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} [[Inflation]] was stabilized in the low single digits, also among the lowest of Latin America.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}

Fernández also began a visionary plan to run the Dominican Republic. When developers proposed the country's first modern port during his first term, he said that "We could be the Singapore of the Caribbean".<ref name="Time Stier 2006">Stier, Ken (16 April 2006) [http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1184077,00.html Tropical Paradox], ''Time''</ref> In Santo Domingo and Santiago, which comprised 40% of the country's population, he favored "mega-projects", building numerous highways and tunnels which improved transit across the greater extent of these cities and created OMSA (Metropolitan Office of Autobus Services in English). His administration also gave incentives for [[foreign direct investment]].

In 2000, Fernández was unable to run for a consecutive term as the 1994 constitution prohibited it. His party held primaries to elect a presidential nominee, which were won by [[Danilo Medina]] with 52% of the votes against Vice-president [[Jaime David Fernández Mirabal]].<ref name="pri99">{{cite web|url=http://www.dr1.com/news/1999/dnews062999.shtml|title=More on the PLD presidential candidate|author=DR1|date=29 June 1999|access-date=20 September 2011}}</ref> Medina, who was sworn as the PLD candidate for the 2000 presidential election,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laverdad.es/agencias/20110627/mas-actualidad/mundo/medina-estratega-pragmatico-vuelve-candidato_201106270433.html|title=Medina, un estratega pragmático, vuelve a ser candidato presidencial del PLD
|author=laverdad.es|language=es|date=26 June 2011|access-date=20 September 2011}}</ref> was defeated by the PRD candidate, [[Hipólito Mejía]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-19-mn-31769-story.html|title=Populist Is Winner of Presidential Race|newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=19 May 2000|access-date=20 September 2011}}</ref> Mejia did not satisfy the 50% rule to avoid a feared run-off election, but Medina, who placed second, recognized Mejia's win immediately.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/19/world/dominican-wins-presidency-as-opponent-shuns-runoff.html |title=Dominican Wins Presidency As Opponent Shuns Runoff|newspaper=The New York Times|date=19 May 2000|access-date=20 September 2011}}</ref>

==Second presidential term (2004–2008)==
[[File:Leonel Fernandez First Cabinet 2004.jpg|thumb|left|Fernández swears in his first Cabinet of government 2004-2008]]
[[File:PresidenteFDB.jpg|thumb|left|Fernández in 2005]]
[[Image:President George W. Bush meets with President Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic in the Oval Office.jpg|thumb|left|[[George W. Bush]] welcomes Fernandez to the White House]]
[[Image:Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva & Leonel Fernández - 2007Jun20 Brazilia.jpg|thumb|left|Fernández Reyna with Brazil's President [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva|Lula da Silva]], First Ladies [[Marisa Letícia Lula da Silva|Marisa Letícia Rocco]] and Margarita Cedeño]]
Fernández was elected to a second term of office in the [[2004 Dominican Republic presidential election|presidential election]] held on 16 May 2004 with an absolute majority and the second highest percentage ever in Dominican history of 57%. He was sworn in on 16 August 2004. His victory was due in large part to the collapse of the Dominican economy. This collapse has been attributed to skyrocketing oil prices and a slumping international economy post-[[September 11 attacks|9/11]], excessive borrowing under the Mejía administration and the failure of three banks in the country: [[Banco Intercontinental]] (Baninter), Bancrédito and Banco Mercantil. In an effort to avoid further economic chaos, the Mejía administration effectively underwrote all three banks, repaying their customers but generating even greater public debt. Some of the bankers involved have been or are on trial, yet the extent of their fraud is hard to measure as their widespread largess with officials within both the Fernández and Mejía administrations has made it nearly impossible to achieve a true accounting of what conditions led to the bank's demise.

According to local sociologist José Oviedo, "The country trusts him with the economy, but he doesn't seem to pay that much attention to social issues." The economic prosperity which his government prided itself on seemed to fail in reaching enough people.<ref name="Time Stier 2006" /> According to ''The Wall Street Journal'',<ref>Mary Anastasia O'Grady (25 November 2012) [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323713104578136991656612384 The Dominican Republic's Taxing Turn], ''The Wall Street Journal''</ref> the economy situation worsened during his last term.

The presidents of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela shook hands during the Rio Group summit, and agreed to end the dispute caused by a Colombian raid against FARC on Ecuadorian territory, for a special request from summit host
Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez at 7 March 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20080307-venezuela-ecuador-colombia-settle-differences-colombia-ecuador|title=Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia settle differences|date=7 March 2008|website=France 24}}</ref> Such Honored act let Fernández received [[World Peace Culture Award]] on 6 April 2008.

==Third presidential term (2008–2012)==
[[Image:Leonel Fernandez Reyna with Obamas.jpg|thumb|Barack and Michelle Obama during a reception at the Metropolitan Museum in New York with Fernández and Margarita Cedeño de Fernández]]
[[Image:Fernandez Clinton.jpg|thumb|Leonel Fernández and then U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton]]
During the Mejía administration, the constitution was changed to again allow the immediate re-election of presidents. Although Mejía was ultimately unsuccessful in his bid for re-election, this opened the door for Fernández to attempt a similar run. On 7 May 2007, despite great controversy over whether the PLD party should support the concept of re-election, Fernández won the PLD primary election with a 72% voting percentage against his former Chief of Staff and confidant, Danilo Medina.

As a result, Fernández became the official PLD candidate for the presidency in the May 2008 General Election.

Fernández was declared the victor of the 2008 election, defeating six others, including the PRD candidate and former president Mejía's right-hand man, [[Miguel Vargas (politician)|Miguel Vargas]], and the PRSC's candidate, [[Amable Aristy]]. Fernández defeated Vargas 53% to 41%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1638429020080517|title=Election propels Dominican president to third term|publisher=Reuters|access-date=29 September 2010|date=17 May 2008}}</ref> Vargas accepted the defeat the same day, 16 May.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=16650|title=Miguel Vargas reconoce su derrota|work=Diario Libre|language=es|access-date=29 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621140010/http://www3.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=16650|archive-date=21 June 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Fernández was sworn in for his third term on 16 August 2008, with the traditional ceremony at the [[Congress of the Dominican Republic|National Congress]].<ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/6478056.html "Dominican president sworn in for third term"], Xinhua (People's Daily Online), 17 August 2008.</ref> An ongoing international economic crisis which occurred during this time did not prevent the Dominican Republic from remaining the fastest growing economy in Latin America, with a growth rate of 3.5 percent in 2009 and a projected growth rate of 6.5 to 7 percent in 2010.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.as-coa.org/articles/president-leonel-fern%C3%A1ndez-dominican-republics-economic-position| title = President Leonel Fernández on the Dominican Republic's Economic Position {{!}} AS/COA}}</ref>

== Corruption cases ==
Leonel Fernández has been accused of corruption on several occasions during his time as president of the Dominican Republic. In 2001, he was accused of embezzling $100 million from the Temporary and Minimal Employment Program, a fund intended to create jobs and quell strikes. He was also accused of awarding government contracts to his friends and family members without following proper procedures.

In 2009, Fernández was again accused of corruption, this time for his role in the construction of a new airport in Santo Domingo. The airport was built by a Chinese company that had close ties to Fernández's government. The company was accused of overcharging the government for the construction of the airport, and Fernández was accused of accepting bribes from the company in exchange for awarding it the contract.

In 2012, authorities raided a local newspaper publisher and formally accused him of collaborating with Rajat Khare of the mercenary Indian hack-for-hire firm [[Appin (company)|Appin]] to hack emails and extract information from the nation's elite for his digital newspaper. The publisher later admitted that in 2011, he paid the Indian company between $5,000 and $10,000 a month to spy on over 200 prominent Dominicans—including Fernández.<ref name="reuters-special-report-appin">{{Cite news |last1=Satter |first1=Raphael |last2=Siddiqui |first2=Zeba |last3=Bing |first3=Chris |date=2023-11-16 |title=How an Indian startup hacked the world |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-hackers-appin/ |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=Reuters |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gómez |first=Jochi |date=2011-12-11 |title=El Siglo 21 (Archived) |url=http://elsiglo21.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211122752/http:/elsiglo21.com:80/ |archive-date=2011-12-11 |website=El Siglo 21 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2012 |title=Orden Judicial de Arresto (Judicial Arrest Warrant) |url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23577803-2012074-detention-order/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=DocumentCloud |language=es}}</ref>

On January 24, 2013, Leonel Fernández was accused of money-laundering related to the [[Global Foundation for Democracy and Development]]. <ref> [https://dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2013/02/08/mums-the-word-on-criminal-charges-filed-against-ex-president/ Mum’s the word on criminal charges filed against ex President] February 8, 2013. [[Dominican Today]]. </ref> However, all charges were dropped. <ref> [https://drlawyer.com/district-attorney-shelves-corruption-case-against-former-president-leonel-fernandez/ District Attorney Shelves Corruption Case Against Former President Leonel Fernández] Guzmán Ariza Law Firm. May 2013</ref>

Fernández has denied all of the corruption allegations against him. He has said that he is the victim of political persecution by his opponents. However, the allegations have damaged his reputation and have led to calls for his resignation.

In 2017, Fernández was indicted on charges of money laundering and bribery. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a scheme to embezzle money from the Dominican government. Fernández has denied the charges and has said that he is the victim of a political witch hunt. The trial is still ongoing, and it is not clear when a verdict will be reached.

In addition to the criminal charges, Fernández has also been the subject of a number of civil lawsuits alleging corruption. In 2016, he was sued by a group of Dominican citizens who accused him of embezzling money from the government. The lawsuit is still pending.

== Civil society engagement ==
In 2000, Leonel Fernandez founded the [[Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo]] (FUNGLODE), headquartered in Santo Domingo, as a think tank as well as a resource and training centre. In 2002, he founded a sister organisation, the [[Global Foundation for Democracy and Development]], dedicated to promoting collaboration between organizations in the United States and the Dominican Republic.

On 20 October 2018, the 42nd Plenary Assembly of the [[World Federation of United Nations Associations]] (WFUNA) unanimously elected him president of the global body for a 3-year renewable term thus succeeding to South Korea's senior Ambassador [[Park Soo-gil]] and former International Atomic Energy Agency Director General, [[Hans Blix]].
[[File:President Fernandez on Election Day.jpg|thumb|[[Leonel Fernandez]] and WFUNA's Leadership on the day of his election]]

==Family and personal life==
Fernández has married and divorced three times. He married for the first time to Yolanda Robles Peña in 1978. She died from lung cancer in 2006. His second marriage was to Rocío Domínguez Quezada in 1987 (the daughter of Juan Domínguez and the mayoress of [[Jarabacoa]] Josefa Piedad Quezada), and had two children, Omar and Nicole. They divorced in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/09/23/fallece-abuelo-omar-nicole-fernandez|title=Portada |work=El Caribe|access-date=17 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://acentoinformativo.com/lamentable-fallece-abuelo-los-hijos-del-ex-presidente-leonel-fernandez-mira-quien/|title=Fallece Abuelo|website=acentoinformativo.com|access-date=17 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013224058/http://acentoinformativo.com/lamentable-fallece-abuelo-los-hijos-del-ex-presidente-leonel-fernandez-mira-quien/|archive-date=13 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2003, Fernández married [[Margarita Cedeño de Fernández|Margarita Cedeño Lizardo]], his former Presidential Legal Adviser and an [[associate attorney]] of his law firm, having another child, Yolanda América María.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diariolibre.com/revista/margarita-le-dedica-algunas-palabras-a-leonel-por-su-aniversario-de-bodas-GK2693181|title=Margarita le dedica algunas palabras a Leonel por su aniversario de bodas|work=Diario Libre |date=9 February 2016 |access-date=17 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2016/07/17/427370/quien-sera-margarita-danilo-o-leonel |title=¿Quién será? Margarita, Danilo o Leonel |date=17 July 2016 |work=Listin Diario |access-date=17 September 2018}}</ref> The couple divorced in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hoy.com.do/por-sentencia-margarita-y-leonel-oficialmente-divorciados/ |title=Es oficial: Margarita Cedeño y Leonel Fernández se divorcian|work=Hoy|date=7 March 2022|access-date=26 May 2022}}</ref>

As of Fall 2022, Fernández' daughter, Nicole, was dating baseball superstar [[Albert Pujols]].<ref>{{cite tweet|user=hgomez27
|number=1581043143268798464|title=Albert Pujols fell in love again!}} {{better source|date=March 2024}}</ref>

In addition to Spanish, his [[mother tongue]], Fernández is [[Language proficiency|fluent]] in [[English language|English]] and [[French language|French]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.funglode.org/biografia-dr-fernandez/|title=Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna |publisher=Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo |access-date=17 September 2018}}</ref>

Leonel Antonio Fernandez graduated with honours in law from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. For a while he worked as a teacher and a journalist before getting into politics. His interest in politics derived from his outstanding student leader abilities, and his dominant role in the General Secretariat of the Students' Association University of Santo Domingo. Moreover, Leonel Antonio Fernandez partook in many protests against the Balaguer regime, was a member of the Central and Political Committees of the Party of Dominican Liberation, which was founded by Juan Bosch. He began expanding his political interests and won Presidency in the Dominican Republic in 1996.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fernández, Leonel |date=19 February 2018 |publisher=World Leadership Alliance Club de Madrid |url=http://www.clubmadrid.org/miembro/leonel-fernandez/}}</ref>

==Honours==
*{{flag|Guatemala}}:
**[[File:Order of the Quetzal - Grand Cross (Guatemala) - ribbon bar.png|60px]] Grand Collar of the [[Order of the Quetzal]] - 2011<ref>https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/presidente-fernndez-es-condecorado-con-la-orden-del-quetzal-CCDL288497 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2025}}</ref>
*{{Flag|Honduras}}:
**[[File:Order_of_José_Cecilio_del_Valle_-_GCGS_(Honduras)_-_ribbon_bar.png|60px]] Grand Cross Gold Plate of the Order of José Cecilio del Valle - 2013<ref>https://proceso.hn/lobo-condecora-a-ex-mandatario-dominicano-leonel-fernandez-por-aporte-a-la-reconciliacion {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2025}}</ref>
*{{flag|Italy}}:
**[[File:Cordone di gran Croce di Gran Cordone OMRI BAR.svg|60px]] Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] - 1999
*{{Flag|Panama}}:
**[[File:PAN_Order_of_Vasco_Nunez_de_Balboa_-_Grand_Cross_BAR.png|60px]] Extraordinary Grand Cross of the [[Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa]] - 2009<ref>https://hoy.com.do/presidentes-se-condecoran-mutuamente {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2025}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Taiwan}}:
** [[File:Order of Brilliant Jade (Taiwan) - ribbon bar.gif|60px]] Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Brilliant Jade]] - 1999

==See also==
{{portal|Dominican Republic}}
* [[Politics of the Dominican Republic]]

==References==
{{reflist|35em}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111002092546/http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/do_2011/pre_perfiles_eng.aspx?id=6010 Biography]
*[http://www.cidob.org/biografias_lideres_politicos/america_central_y_caribe/republica_dominicana/leonel_fernandez_reyna Biography] at [[CIDOB Foundation]] {{in lang|es}}
*{{C-SPAN|55589}}
*{{NYTtopic|people/f/leonel_fernandez}}

{{Commons category|Leonel Fernández}}

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{{s-ttl|title=[[President of the Dominican Republic]]|years=1996–2000}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Hipólito Mejía]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of the Dominican Republic]]|years=2004–2012}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Danilo Medina]]}}
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{{Presidents of the Dominican Republic}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernandez, Leonel}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Collars of the Order of Christopher Columbus]]
[[Category:Dominican Liberation Party politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Dominican Republic lawyers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Santo Domingo]]
[[Category:Politicians from Santo Domingo]]
[[Category:Presidents of political parties in the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Dominican Republic people of Spanish descent]]
[[Category:World Federation of United Nations Associations]]
[[Category:Members of the Inter-American Dialogue]]