Jarabacoa. – The City Council of the municipal district of Manabao, in La Vega, filed a formal complaint against the current treasurer Yohani Muñoz Sánchez, for misuse of funds. The council, represented by Ángeles Ulerio and Carlos Madera, reported that the legal action is based on an alleged misuse of funds belonging to the mayor's […]
Las Terrenas, Samaná. – The municipal mayor, Eduardo Esteban Polanco, offered statements after concluding a meeting with the Minister of Interior and Police, Faride Raful, along with municipal and provincial authorities. The meeting, held at the Las Terrenas City Hall, was part of the preliminary coordination for Easter Week 2026. You can read more: Governor […]
Santo Domingo.– The Chamber of Deputies approved this Tuesday in second reading an organic bill that eliminates the figure of independent candidacies from the electoral regime, in a decision that has generated questions for contradicting a previous ruling of the Constitutional Court. With this measure, the National Congress nullifies articles 156, 157, and 158 of […]
Santo Domingo.- The Minister of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVHED), Víctor -Ito- Bisonó, led the first session of the Oversight Commission for public investment procurement and contracting processes in infrastructure, formalizing its implementation as a mechanism for supervision and monitoring of these institutional processes. The commission, of an honorary nature, was created by Resolution No. […]
Las Terrenas, Samaná. – The lawyer and public servant Raylian Adames Hidalgo, 28 years old, was appointed as the new director of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources office in this tourist municipality, with the aim of strengthening the protection of natural resources, environmental management, and promoting a vision of sustainable development in line […]
Santo Domingo. – The volleyball team of the National District defeated the La Vega sextet in straight sets 25-14 and 25-10 during the start of the Santo Domingo 2026 Women's Games. Among the most outstanding players, Harleny de los Santos scored 15 points and Yamil Moya, seven. You may be interested in:Ciudad Juan Bosch celebrates […]
30% of the participants arrived from Chile, Argentina, the United States, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, consolidating the international character of the event, which took place in the Cibao region. La Vega, Dominican Republic. – With the participation of more than three hundred national and international cyclists, the Gran Fondo Cycling Challenge RD 2026 successfully celebrated […]
Punta Cana.- The final of the Dominican Republic Open Copa Cap Cana (ATP Challenger 175 category), which was being played between Italian tennis player Mattia Bellucci and Argentine Mariano Navone, has been temporarily suspended due to the high temperatures recorded during the day. Given the conditions of extreme heat, the match referee and tournament organizers […]
SANTO DOMINGO. – Dominican world champion Carlos Adames, known as “El Caballo Bronco” (The Bronco Horse), will defend his middleweight title (160 pounds) sanctioned by the World Boxing Council against American Austin Williams, on March 21st at the Caribe Royale Resort, in Orlando, Florida. You may be interested in:Kelvin Cruz doubles economic contribution to TBS […]
The Atlanta Braves player will lose his season salary and will not be able to participate in the World Baseball Classic United States - Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar has been suspended for 162 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance for the second time in the last year, sources told ESPN. You […]
YouTube Premium is known for offering ad-free viewing, background playback, and downloads for watching videos offline. However, the platform has a function that changes the experience of those seeking to avoid not only external advertising, but also the promotional segments integrated into the videos themselves: it is about “Jump Ahead”, a tool designed to automatically skip […]
The streaming platform Spotify launched a new feature that allows users to know how the song they are listening to was created, offering a deeper and more interactive experience. The tool, called “About the Song”, displays information about the creative process, inspiration, and details behind each musical theme. This function appears through informative cards that […]
Google Photos incorporated a little-known feature that allows you to free up space in your account without having to delete photos or videos. It is the "storage saver" option, a tool that automatically compresses files to reduce their size without significantly affecting their visual quality. This alternative arises in response to an increasingly common problem […]
Miami.- The SLS (Space Launch System) rocket of the Artemis II mission, in which four astronauts will orbit the Moon, returned this Friday to the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it maintains the expectation of departing on April 1. The rocket's move, with the Orion spacecraft to which the four […]
Vienna.- 'Online' fraud already accounts for the majority of scams and artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating its expansion, while many states are not prepared to stop a crime with which organized crime earns billions of dollars, warns the UN on the eve of a summit in Vienna on this phenomenon. "At this moment, fraud, and […]
The White House rejected the proposal by businessman Elon Musk to assume the payment of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers during the partial shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and has caused delays at airports in the United States, sources told CBS News. The offer proposed by the technology entrepreneur amounted to […]
On March 20, a report by The New York Times was published stating that the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, is under criminal investigation by the federal prosecutors of Manhattan and Brooklyn in the United States. The investigations, in an initial phase, analyze possible links between Petro and drug traffickers and whether his presidential campaign […]
Error al procesar la solicitud Scientists from the Cape Eleuthera Institute and international allies have analyzed blood samples from 85 sharks and found illicit substances, stimulants, or drugs. This would be the first time in the world that scientific research reveals caffeine and acetaminophen in sharks, as reported this Thursday by local media, and they […]
The fear of the imminent rupture of the Wahiawa dam, a structure built in 1906 on the north coast of Oahu island, in Hawaii, forced the immediate evacuation of more than four thousand residents after heavy rains that caused flooding and damage to homes and access roads, according to the international news agency The Associated […]
Cancún.- The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, received this Thursday in Cancún, in the Mexican Caribbean mexicano, the German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in a meeting where they will address commercial cooperation, investment, education and culture, shortly before the signing of the modernization of the agreement with the European Union (EU). The Mexican ruler received Steinmeier […]
Santo Domingo, R.D. — The businessman and CEO of Alofoke Media Group, Santiago Matías, once again demonstrates his social sensitivity by responding positively to the call of Christian music singer Martha Candela, who recently requested his help to acquire a vehicle. In an interview given in New York City to the program Opción New York, […]
After their impressive performance at Vive Latino, La Mosca continues its 2026 World Tour with an intense series of shows in Mexico, where they will perform in Puebla, San Luis Potosí, and Guadalajara, reaffirming the strong bond with their audience. During April, the tour will continue through Argentina and Chile, and then jump to North […]
J Álvarez presents the official video for “El Boss”, one of the songs from “El Dueño del Sistema Vol. 3”, continuing the visual strategy of the project and amplifying its reach on digital platforms. "El Dueño del Sistema Vol. 3" continues to show a solid performance on digital platforms, approaching 14 million accumulated streams. During […]
Businessman Santiago Matías reported that he made a formal request to YouTube to limit access in Venezuela to his new and ambitious project Planeta Alofoke during a live broadcast on the night of this Monday of Alofoke Radio Show. In that context, Matías assured that he will not give Venezuelan citizens the opportunity to participate […]
Businessman Santiago Matías announced that he will initiate legal action against Gregorio Giuseppe Begnini Arcia, a participant in the first season of the reality show La Casa de Alofoke. According to his explanation, the contestant would have violated the regulations established in his participation contract, including image use and rights transfer agreements signed to be […]
Although the Central Electoral Board has not officially kicked off the presidential pre-campaign for 2028, the Dominican political scene shows unequivocal signs of early activation. The main parties are moving as if the contest were underway, multiplying events, refining speeches and appealing to polls to legitimize positions, in a context where public opinion is beginning […]
A country can ignite from a chat: WhatsApp sets the agenda before the media. A single forward surpasses any headline. In the digital age, the real information crisis doesn't ignite in the newsrooms of a media outlet, nor on the front pages of newspapers: it begins in a simple WhatsApp chat. Before any media outlet […]
In the Dominican Republic, presidents don't fall because of the opposition. They fall because of something more intimate and devastating: their own family. When corruption shares the same last name as the presidential band, it ceases to be a case and becomes a sentence. It's not a contract that is judged: it's the entire credibility […]
In 2015, an internal crisis within the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) forced the leadership of that organization to promote a constitutional reform to enable President Danilo Medina, who had been elected in 2012 through a constitution that prohibited consecutive re-election. Medina was eligible to try to return in 2020, that is, after a period, a […]
For days, Leonardo Aguilera has been the target of a campaign as evidently coordinated as it is poorly executed. Defamation, slander, and half-truths circulate on networks and certain media with suspicious synchronicity. Who's sending them? Who's biting their nails? The formula is old: fabricate scandals where they don't exist, repeat lies until they seem like […]
Santiago.- The Association of Merchants and Industrialists of Santiago (ACIS) and the Association of Wholesalers in Provisions of Santiago (Amaprosan) warned this Tuesday that the growth of the so-called private label brands in large commercial chains would be displacing national products, affecting the sales of local companies and creating a scenario that, if not regulated, […]
National and international specialists agreed that the Preliminary Draft Organic Law on Antitrust and Economic Competition represents a decisive step to strengthen the functioning of markets in the Dominican Republic, generating more transparent conditions for competition, greater security for investment, and direct benefits for consumers. During a technical dialogue entitled "Clear Rules for Competing: Dialogue […]
By the end of December 2025, a total of 2,432,540 workers contribute to the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS), generating 2,527,123 contributions registered in the system, according to the most recent Statistical Bulletin of the Contributory Regime published by the Social Security Treasury (TSS). The report, prepared from the administrative records of the Single Information, […]
Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic received $887.6 million in remittances in February, 9.6% less than the amount received in January of this year ($982.8 million), and also $29.4 million less compared to the same month of 2025, the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) reported this Sunday. The BCRD indicated that this reduction in […]
Caracas.- The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, informed this Saturday of the entry of 300 million dollars to a recently created fund for "social protection" from an "extraordinary sale" of fuel oil, a fuel derived from petroleum. In an act broadcast by the state channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), the Chavista leader assured that […]
Santiago.- The Jesus with the Children Volunteer announced on the afternoon of this Monday the celebration of the fourth edition of the walk “Heroes of the Heart”, a solidarity day that seeks to raise awareness about childhood cancer and raise funds for the treatments of children treated in the Hematology-Oncology Unit of the Dr. Arturo […]
Do you think you know everything? Science and history continue to reveal surprising data that shows the world is full of mysteries and curiosities. These facts, supported by scientific research, can change the way we see reality. 1. Humans and bananas share part of their DNA Although it may sound strange, humans share some genes […]
Santo Domingo.– The Miss and Mister of Dominican Republic organization officially launched its concentration week, marking the beginning of a new stage in the country's beauty pageants. Alejandro Martínez, one of the event directors, reported that throughout the week the candidates will participate in various activities, including talent competition, "head to head" dynamics, interviews with […]
Bogotá, Colombia.- The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, inaugurated the Dominican stand at the tourism fair La Vitrina de ANATO, which began this Wednesday in Bogotá, Colombia and will run until Friday. Accompanied by businessmen, bankers, diplomats and other sector actors, Minister Collado cut the ribbon, after assuring that he will continue making his greatest […]
Madrid, Spain.- Dominican journalist Cristian Santana presented a new installment of his program Sabor de la Calle, this time broadcasting from the city of Madrid, where he toured some of the most emblematic gastronomic points of the Spanish capital, combining local tradition with the authentic flavor of the Dominican community abroad. During the tour, Santana […]
If anything has been highlighted by the prolonged Haitian crisis, it is the historical debt that the Dominican Republic has with its own border. The provinces that guard that line of more than 390 kilometers not only face the direct consequences of the collapse of the Haitian state, but have also been, for decades, forgotten […]
Without a doubt, the tourism sector represents one of the greatest successes of the governments of President Luis Abinader, an area that he already knew well before his arrival at the Presidency of the Republic, due to his experience as a local businessman. Since his swearing-in in August 2020, the Tourism Cabinet was implemented, coordinated […]
This July 4th, the United States commemorates the 249th anniversary of its independence, a date that marks the beginning of a nation forged in the fight for freedom, civil rights, and self-determination. Since then, this feat has been celebrated in multiple cultural expressions that exalt patriotic pride and the sense of national belonging. However, on […]
Today we proudly and gratefully celebrate the fourth anniversary of De Último Minuto, a project that was born with the firm conviction of transforming the way information is reported in the Dominican Republic. In these four years, we have witnessed —and been protagonists— of a revolution in digital journalism, marked by immediacy, technological innovation, and […]
On the eve of celebrating the fourth anniversary of De Último Minuto, we reaffirm our commitment to innovation, technology and, above all, to you: our readers. We are driven by the constant desire to evolve, to do things differently and to keep up with the times. Therefore, today we present two new products that will […]
Joaquín Antonio Balaguer Ricardo (September 1, 1906 – July 14, 2002) was an influential Dominican politician, writer, and statesman. He held the presidency of the Dominican Republic in three different periods: 1960-1962, 1966-1978, and 1986-1996, being the leader with the most years in power during the 20th century. Considered an enigmatic figure, he combined poetry with authoritarian politics, leaving an indelible mark on Dominican history.
Who was Joaquín Balaguer?
Born in Bisonó (then Navarrete), Santiago, Balaguer grew up in a modest home. Son of the Puerto Rican Joaquín Balaguer Lespier and Carmen Celia Ricardo Heureaux, he had a strong inclination towards literature from a young age. He graduated in law from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo and studied briefly at the University of Paris. His intellectual vocation led him to write poetry and essays from a very young age, as well as working as a journalist.
Joaquín Balaguer y Rafael Leónidas Trujillo con el papa Pío XII en 1955
Political Ascent Under Trujillo's Dictatorship
During the era of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, Balaguer held various diplomatic and ministerial positions. He was considered an effective collaborator of the regime, although he maintained a reserved and non-confrontational style. His relationship with the dictator allowed him to climb the ranks until he was appointed vice president in 1957 and president in 1960, under Trujillo's absolute control.
First Presidential Term (1960-1962)
After Trujillo's death in 1961, Balaguer tried to liberalize certain policies of the regime, but was rejected by civilian and military sectors. In 1962, he was overthrown and forced into exile in New York.
Foundation of the Reformist Party and Return to Power
In 1964, Joaquín Balaguer founded the Reformist Party and returned to the country to participate in the 1966 elections, amidst a Civil War and American military occupation. Balaguer won the presidency, beginning his most controversial period: the twelve years.
The Twelve Years (1966-1978): Authoritarianism and Public Works
During this long term, Balaguer promoted a strong public works program: dams, roads, schools, and hospitals. However, his government was marked by reports of political repression, forced disappearances, and assassinations of opponents. Human rights organizations documented hundreds of victims. Paramilitary groups such as La Banda Colorá operated with impunity.
The eighties and nineties: the final ten years (1986-1996)
Joaquín Balaguer returned to power in 1986, already elderly and partially blind. His style of government was more tolerant, but he maintained firm control of the State. He continued with large projects such as the Columbus Lighthouse, inaugurated in 1992 along with Pope John Paul II. The 1990 and 1994 elections were surrounded by accusations of fraud, especially those of 1994, when he defeated Peña Gómez in one of the most tense contests of the century.
End of his political life and final years
Following the "Pact for Democracy" of 1994, it was agreed that Balaguer would not seek a new term. However, he ran in 2000, at the age of 94, obtaining a surprising third place. He died on July 14, 2002, in Santo Domingo.
Personal Life
Hermetic in his intimate life, Balaguer never married nor officially recognized children. Several unrecognized descendants are attributed to him. He lived in the same house for more than 50 years and maintained an austere image, although surrounded by myths.
Political and Social Legacy
Joaquín Balaguer left a dual legacy: on the one hand, he is remembered for the development of national infrastructure, and on the other, for serious human rights violations. He was a master of clientelism and political rhetoric, known for phrases like "The good is not changed" and "While Balaguer breathes, let no one aspire." Even today, his figure generates intense debates in Dominican society.
Joaquín Balaguer as a Writer
In addition to being a politician, Balaguer was a prolific writer. He published more than 70 works including poetry, historical essays, and speeches. Some of his outstanding works are Memoirs of a Courtier of the Trujillo Era, The Enchained Word, The Island Upside Down and The Sentinel of the Border.
Awards and Decorations of Joaquín Balaguer
National Literature Award (1990)
Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1953 and 1976)
Other national and international distinctions
Campaign phrases and slogans of Joaquín Balaguer
"Don't change what's good"
"Four more years and then we'll talk"
"And Balaguer keeps coming back"
"You will know them by their fruits"
Literary Works by Joaquín Balaguer
Pagan Psalms (1922)
Moonlight (1922)
Lyrical Thebaid (1924)
Castilian Metrics (1930)
Heredia: verb of freedom, 1939; second edition in 1945.
Blue in the Puddles (1941)
The Dominican Reality (1941). Second edition with the title Dominican Reality: semblance of a country and a regime (1947)
The Trujillo-Hull Treaty and the Financial Liberation of the Dominican Republic (1941)
Trujillo's International Politics (1941)
Emotional Guide to the Romantic City (1944)
Dominican Letters (1944)
Words with Rhythmic Accents (1946)
Words with Two Rhythmic Accents (1946)
The Foremost Writers (1947)
Literary Profiles (1948)
Concerning a Supposed Prosodic Vice of Hispanic American Poets (1949)
Dominican Literature (1950)
The Christ of Freedom (1950)
Federico García Godoy, Anthology (1951)
Federico García Godoy (1951)
The Principle of Alternation in Dominican History (1952)
Décimas, prologue and compilation (1953)
Consideration about the production and investment of our taxes (1953)
Notes for a prosodic history of the Castilian metric (1954)
The Living Thought of Trujillo (1955)
History of Dominican Literature (1956)
Panegyric Speeches: Politics and International Political Education (1957)
Christopher Columbus: Literary Precursor (1958)
The Sentinel of the Border. Life and deeds of Antonio Duvergé (1962)
Life and deeds of Antonio Duvergé (1962)
The Sentinel of the Border (1962)
Reformism: political philosophy of the revolution without blood (1966)
Mission of intellectuals. Speeches. (1967)
With God, with the homeland and with the freedom of speech (1971)
Debellated Conspiracy of Discourse (1971)
Before my mother's tomb (1972)
Educational themes and diplomatic activities (1973)
The March to the Capitol (1973)
Speeches. Historical and literary themes (1973)
Educational themes and diplomatic activities (1973)
Illuminated Crosses (1974)
The Chained Word (1975)
Criticism and Interpretation (1975)
The Crystal Cross (1976)
Selected Speeches (1977)
Speech at the unveiling of the statue of the poet Fabio Fiallo (1977)
Criticism and Interpretation (1977)
Pedestals. Historical Speeches (1979)
Sealed Orchard: verses of youth (1980)
Messages to the Dominican People (1983)
Between the blood of May 30 and that of April 24 (1983)
The Island Upside Down (1983 and 1995)
Heroic Gallery (1984)
The Carpenters (1984)
The Transparent Veil (1987)
Memoirs of a Courtier of the Trujillo Era (1988)
Romance of the Wanderer Without Destiny, Enrique Blanco (1990)
Silent Voice (1992)
Back to the Capitol (1986-1992) (1993)
Girl with Sex (1995)
Me and my classmates (1996)
Infinite Spain (1997)
Eternal Greece (1999)
The English Race (2000).
Technical Sheet of Joaquín Balaguer
Full name: Joaquín Antonio Balaguer Ricardo
Date of birth: September 1, 1906
Place of birth: Navarrete (current Villa Bisonó), Santiago Province, Dominican Republic
Personal characteristics: Single, blind in his later years, enigmatic figure, hermetic private life
Family relations: Son of Joaquín Balaguer Lespier and Carmen Celia Ricardo Heureaux
Relationship with dictators:
Close collaborator of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo
Relative of Ulises Heureaux (Lilís)
Legacy: Key figure in 20th-century Dominican politics. A mix of infrastructural development, political clientelism, and accusations of human rights violations
Most remembered political slogan: “What is good is not changed”
Former President of the Dominican Republic
Leonel Fernández - is a Dominican politician, lawyer, professor, and writer. He was President of the Dominican Republic on three occasions: 1996-2000, 2004-2008 and 2008-2012.
Hipólito Mejía - was born on February 22, 1941 in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. He is a politician, agronomist and businessman who served as President of the Dominican Republic between 2000 and 2004.
Danilo Medina - was born on November 10, 1951 in Arroyo Cano, municipality of Bohechío, in the province of San Juan, south of the Dominican Republic.
Rafael Leónidas Trujillo- was a politician, military man and dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic absolutely for more than three decades.
SANTIAGO.- With the presence of fighters from 10 nations, the XLV version of the International Independence National Boxing Cup will be mounted, starting next Monday, which will be held from the 16th to the 22nd of this month in the indoor area of the popular sector of Los Pepines, with the sponsorship of the Mayor's […]
Santo Domingo, R.D.– Eduardo José Sanz Lovatón, better known as Eduardo “Yayo” Sanz Lovatón, is a Dominican lawyer, professor, politician and public servant with extensive experience in public administration, law and academia, who will now head Industry, Commerce and Mipymes. Sanz Lovatón was born on February 5, 1977 in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional. He holds […]
Santiago de Chile.- With an almost monothematic campaign, focused on combating crime and irregular migration, the far-right former deputy José Antonio Kast came second in the presidential elections this Sunday, with the xxx of the votes, and managed to pass to the second round of December against the leftist Jeannette Jara. "We are not just […]
Santiago de Chile.- At the head of the broadest progressive coalition in the country's history, former minister Jeannette Jara made history this Sunday by becoming the first communist to win the first round of a presidential election in Chile, but did not get enough votes and will seek to stop the far-right José Antonio Kast […]
Rodrigo Paz Pereira was born in September 1967 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, during the exile of his father, former President Jaime Paz Zamora (1989-1993). He comes from a family historically linked to Bolivian politics, as his paternal grandfather was a first cousin of former President Víctor Paz Estenssoro. He is a professional economist with […]
SANTO DOMINGO.- The President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, appointed this Friday the lawyer and academic Aura Celeste Fernández Rodríguez as the new General Manager of the National Council of Social Security (CNSS), a position from which she will lead the supervision and modernization of the social security system in the country. Fernández Rodríguez has […]
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