Leonel Fernández facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leonel Fernández
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Leonel Fernández, 2016
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| 50th & 52nd President of the Dominican Republic | |
| In office 16 August 2004 – 16 August 2012 |
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| Vice President | Rafael Alburquerque |
| Preceded by | Hipólito Mejía |
| Succeeded by | Danilo Medina |
| In office 16 August 1996 – 16 August 2000 |
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| Vice President | Jaime David Fernández Mirabal |
| Preceded by | Joaquín Balaguer |
| Succeeded by | Hipólito Mejía |
| Second Gentleman of the Dominican Republic | |
| In role 16 August 2012 – 16 August 2020 |
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| Vice President | Margarita Cedeño de Fernández |
| Preceded by | Martha Montes de Oca (as Second Lady) |
| Succeeded by | Marco José Antuña Cabral |
| President of the World Federation of United Nations Associations | |
| In office 20 November 2018 – 11 November 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Park Soo-gil  |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna
26 December 1953 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Political party | People's Force (since 2019) |
| Other political affiliations |
Dominican Liberation Party (2001–2019) |
| Spouses |
Rocío Domínguez Quezada
(m. 1987; div. 1996) |
| Relations | Piedad Quezada, Mayor of Jarabacoa (ex-mother-in-law) |
| Children | 3, including national deputy Omar Fernández |
| Alma mater | Autonomous University of Santo Domingo |
| Signature |  |
| Website |
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Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna, born on December 26, 1953, is a well-known figure from the Dominican Republic. He is a lawyer and academic. He served as the 50th and 52nd President of the Dominican Republic. His first term was from 1996 to 2000, and his second was from 2004 to 2012.
Fernández was the first president elected from the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). His time as president focused on improving technology and building new structures. He also worked to keep the country's economy stable. He led the Dominican Liberation Party from 2001 until 2019. Later, he started a new political group called the People's Force.
He grew up in Villa Juana, Distrito Nacional, and spent much of his childhood in New York City. Leonel Fernández also served as the President of the World Federation of United Nations Associations from 2018 to 2022. He is also a member of the Inter-American Dialogue.
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Early Life and Education
Leonel Fernández is the son of José Antonio Fernández Collado and Yolanda Reyna Romero. In 1962, his family moved to New York City. They lived in the Washington Heights area, which is home to many Dominicans.
After finishing high school, Fernández returned to the Dominican Republic in 1968. He began studying law at the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo. In 1973, he joined the Dominican Liberation Party. This party was founded by former President Juan Bosch. Fernández was seen as a close student of Bosch. He even ran as Bosch's vice-presidential candidate in the 1994 election.
First Time as President (1996–2000)
The 1994 election results caused a lot of disagreement. To calm things down, a special election was planned for May 1996. In this election, Leonel Fernández came in second place. He received 38.9% of the votes.
In the final round of voting on June 30, 1996, Fernández won. He got 51.2% of the votes. He became president on August 16, 1996. He took over from President Joaquín Balaguer.
During his first term, Fernández worked on improving the economy. The Dominican Republic's economy grew by about seven percent each year. This was one of the highest growth rates in Latin America. Prices also stayed stable, which was good for the country.
Fernández had big plans for the Dominican Republic. He wanted it to be a major hub, like Singapore. He started "mega-projects" in cities like Santo Domingo. These projects included building many highways and tunnels. This made travel easier in the cities. His government also encouraged foreign companies to invest in the country.
In 2000, Fernández could not run for president again. The constitution at that time did not allow presidents to serve two terms in a row. His party chose Danilo Medina as their candidate. However, Medina lost the election to Hipólito Mejía.
Second Time as President (2004–2008)
Fernández was elected president for a second time in the election held on May 16, 2004. He won with 57% of the votes. He started his new term on August 16, 2004. His win came after the Dominican economy faced big problems.
These problems were caused by high oil prices and a struggling global economy. Also, three banks in the country failed. Fernández's government worked to fix these economic issues.
During this term, Fernández also played a role in international peace. He helped leaders from Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela resolve a dispute. This happened at a summit in March 2008. For this effort, he received the World Peace Culture Award.
Third Time as President (2008–2012)
During the previous president's term, the constitution was changed. This change allowed presidents to run for re-election right away. This opened the door for Fernández to seek another term. On May 7, 2007, he won his party's primary election. He received 72% of the votes.
As a result, Fernández became the official candidate for president in the May 2008 election. He won the election, defeating six other candidates. He defeated Miguel Vargas with 53% of the votes. Vargas accepted the results on the same day.
Fernández began his third term on August 16, 2008. Even with a global economic crisis happening, the Dominican Republic's economy continued to grow. It remained one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America.
Community Involvement
In 2000, Leonel Fernández started the Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE). This organization is a "think tank" and a training center in Santo Domingo. In 2002, he also created the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development. This group helps organizations in the United States and the Dominican Republic work together.
On October 20, 2018, Fernández was chosen to be the president of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA). He was elected by all members for a three-year term. He took over from Ambassador Park Soo-gil.
Family and Personal Life
Leonel Fernández first married Rocío Domínguez Quezada in 1987. They had two children, Omar and Nicole. They divorced in 1996. In 2003, Fernández married Margarita Cedeño Lizardo. She was his former legal advisor. They had one child, Yolanda América María. This couple divorced in 2022.
As of late 2022, Fernández's daughter, Nicole, was dating baseball star Albert Pujols.
Besides Spanish, his first language, Fernández also speaks English and French very well.
Leonel Antonio Fernández graduated with high honors in law. He studied at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. Before entering politics, he worked as a teacher and a journalist. His interest in politics grew from his strong leadership skills as a student. He was a key member of the Students' Association at the University of Santo Domingo. He also took part in many protests against the Balaguer government. He was a member of the Central and Political Committees of the Dominican Liberation Party. He became president of the Dominican Republic in 1996.
Honors and Awards
Guatemala:
Grand Collar of the Order of the Quetzal - 2011
Honduras:
Grand Cross Gold Plate of the Order of José Cecilio del Valle - 2013
Italy:
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - 1999
Panama:
Extraordinary Grand Cross of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa - 2009
Taiwan:
Grand Cordon of the Order of Brilliant Jade - 1999
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See also
In Spanish: Leonel Fernández para niños
