Leonel Fernández, former President of the Dominican Republic and president of FUNGLODE – GFDD, visited Madrid to promote cooperation with Spain. He met with major institutions to sign agreements in education and culture. He also reviewed achievements with the GFDD Spain Board and discussed cybersecurity issues with the CESN. During a blackout, he showed closeness to the community. The visit concluded with a recognition of his leadership.
Madrid, April 2025 – The former President of the Dominican Republic and president of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), Leonel Fernández, carried out an intensive institutional agenda in Madrid, focused on expanding academic, cultural, and strategic cooperation between the Dominican Republic and Spain.
During his stay, President Fernández held key meetings with institutions such as the National Library of Spain, the Institute of Stock Market Studies (IEB, for its acronym in spanish), and the Center for Political and Constitutional Studies, aimed at signing agreements in areas such as postgraduate education, research, and democratic culture. He also met with the Spanish Association of Foundations (AEF, for its acronym in spanish) to strengthen collaboration networks among civil society organizations.
Internally, the president led an important meeting with the Board of GFDD Spain, focused on evaluating the achievements of the first quarter of the year and planning new initiatives for the remainder of 2025. Although held on a Saturday, the event brought together esteemed members such as Juan Luis Cebrián, Guillermo Sención, Manuel Estrella, José Espinal, Miguel Roig, and Félix Martínez, who shared insights and proposals for strengthening the Foundation’s institutional presence in Europe.
One of the most significant meetings was held with the National Security Studies Center (CESN, for its acronym in spanish), where key topics were addressed, including cybersecurity, protection of critical infrastructure, anti-drone technology development, and youth training in defense and crisis management. Also in attendance was General Guillermo Fermín, former Chief of the National Police, who supported strategic cooperation efforts. The outcome was the groundwork for a cooperation agreement involving training activities, participation in sector fairs, and pilot programs on security and strategic analysis. Congresswoman Seliné Méndez, who attended alongside General Fermín, also stressed the urgency of reviewing legislative and security protocols in Santo Domingo to better respond to connectivity failures of similar nature.
In a more human and spontaneous moment, President Fernández experienced firsthand the massive blackout that struck Madrid on Monday, April 29. During a meeting, the power outage and mobile network failure interrupted all communications. In response, he decided to walk through the Salamanca district toward Pérgamo Bookstore, located near the GFDD Spain office. Along the way, he greeted concerned residents and, with his usual approachability and leadership, offered words of encouragement amid the uncertainty. Despite the tense atmosphere, his presence brought calm.
Upon arriving at the bookstore—the oldest in Madrid—the president jokingly remarked, “If this is an energy crisis, this is the safest place to be.” He expressed gratitude for the warm welcome from María, the bookseller, and took the opportunity to find refuge among the books. While there, several Dominican students excitedly approached him to express admiration and respect.
The visit concluded with the presentation of the Highest Distinction of the Carlos III Foundation to President Fernández, in recognition of his political leadership and enduring commitment to culture, democracy, and international cooperation.
Through this tour, the president reaffirmed his commitment to positioning the Dominican Republic as a nation that is prepared, connected, and deeply committed to knowledge, innovation, public security, and the human value of its people.
