Joaquín Balaguer

Joaquín Antonio Balaguer Ricardo (1 September 1906 – 14 July 2002) was a Dominican politician, scholar, writer, and lawyer who was the 41st, 45th and 49th president of the Dominican Republic, serving three non-consecutive terms from 1960 to 1962, 1966 to 1978, and 1986 to 1996. He previously served as the 24th vice president under President Héctor Trujillo from 1957 to 1960.

His enigmatic, secretive personality was inherited from the Trujillo era, as well as his desire to perpetuate himself in power through rigged elections and widespread human rights violations. He was considered to be a caudillo. According to Luisa de Peña Díaz, director of the Memorial Museum of Dominican Resistance, between 1966 and 1978, 11,000 people were tortured, imprisoned, forcibly disappeared or killed under his regime. This includes 1,200 political killings. Nevertheless, Balaguer was also considered to be instrumental in the liberalization of the Dominican government, and his time as leader of the Dominican Republic saw major changes such as legalized political activities, surprise army promotions and demotions, promoting health and education improvements and instituting modest land reforms.