- Who
- Joaquin Balaguer
- Where
- Dominican Republic ()
Joaquin Balaguer (1907-2002) was president of the Dominican Republic 1960–62, 1966–78, and 1986–96. He ultimately left office at the age of 89, having held the presidency for over 23 years in total.
Born in Villa Bisonó, Dominican Republic and a lawyer by trade, he began his career in the 1930s, working for the Dominican Republic's notorious dictator, Rafael Trujillo, and eventually becoming president in name.
After Trujillo's assassination in 1961, there was a period of political turmoil, and Mr Balaguer went into exile in the United States. In 1966, he was restored to power with US backing and won the presidency in 1966 then and again in 1970 and 1974.
Social unrest and guerrilla activity caused him to loose the 1978 and 1982 presidential elections, but he was re-elected in 1986, 1990, and 1994 on a conservative platform.
The 1994 election was so marred by such serious allegations of fraud that international pressure forced Balaguer to agree to resign after only a two-year term.
