New York, USA – Former President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández, participated in the conference “The Evolution of Democracy in the Dominican Republic”, organized by the Juventud Hablemos initiative and the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) in the United States, in collaboration with the Latin American Students Association (LASA) and the Greater Caribbean Studies Program of the Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS) at Columbia University.
The keynote speech was delivered by Nathanael Concepción, lawyer and consultant, and director of the Dominican Political Observatory (OPD-FUNGLODE), with Natalie Madera serving as moderator.
In his presentation, Concepción analyzed the evolution of Dominican democracy from the establishment of the state in 1844 to the present day.
He highlighted that the third wave of democracy in the region began in the Dominican Republic in 1978, with the transfer of power from Dr. Joaquín Balaguer to Antonio Guzmán. This event marked the first time an elected government handed over power to another party through democratic elections. He also mentioned the first male universal suffrage election in 1866, which was won by José María Cabral y Luna, as well as the first election organized by the Central Electoral Board in 1942, in which Horacio Vásquez was elected president.
Additionally, he referenced key figures in the country’s political history, such as Ulises Francisco Espaillat, the first non-military president in 1876, and Fernando Arturo de Meriño, the first head of state to complete his constitutional term between 1880 and 1882.
Concepción also addressed current challenges to democracy, including the rise of populism, democratic quality, fake news and social media, artificial intelligence, global conflicts and instability, migration, and the emergence of authoritarian state capitalism models, as seen in China and Russia.
The director of Juventud Hablemos, Ámbar Pagán, delivered the welcoming remarks.
At the conclusion of the event, Leonel Fernández greeted attendees, congratulated the students for their initiative, and emphasized the importance of youth engagement in critical thinking, political participation, and academic trainingfrom an early age to contribute to the country’s development.
About the Initiative
Juventud Hablemos is a project that connects academics from the Dominican Republic with university students, creating a space for knowledge exchange and skill development that contributes to the country’s positive progress.
