The Trujillo Dictatorship: In 1916, the USA occupied the Dominican Republic, having managed the country's customs affairs (on behalf of USA and European creditors) since 1905. When the USA left in 1924, the Republic had a fully organized army, whose commander, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina, became President in 1930. Thus began one of the most ruthless dictatorships ever seen in the Dominican Republic. With either himself or his surrogates at the helm (H�ctor Trujillo, 1947-60, and Joaqu�n Balaguer, 1960-62), Trujillo embarked on the expansion of industry and public works, the introduction of the national currency and the liquidation of the country's debts. Nevertheless, his methods of government denied any form of representation and included murder, torture, blackmail and corruption. During his reign, in 1937, an estimated 10,000 Haitian immigrants were slaughtered, prolonging the hatred between the two republics which had begun in the early 19th century. The Balaguer Presidencies: Trujillo was assassinated in 1961. President Balaguer immediately set about eradicating his family's influence, but in 1962 Balaguer was defeated in elections by Dr Juan Bosch of the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD). After seven months he was ousted by a miltary coup led by Colonel El�as Wessin y Wessin. The PRD, with the support of a group of young colonels, tried to win back constitutional government in 1965, but were prevented from doing so by the army, backed by the USA and the Organization of American States. New elections were held in 1966; they were won by Balaguer, at the head of the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano (PRSC). He remained in office until 1978, forging closer links with the USA, but not without facing coup attempts, right-wing terrorism and left-wing guerrilla incursions. A PRD President was returned in 1978, Antonio Guzm�n, whose chief aims were to reduce army power and eliminate corruption. A month before leaving office in 1982, he committed suicide. It is alleged that he had discovered that members of his family, who had held office under him, had been involved in corruption, but this has never been proved. His successor, Dr Salvador Jorge Blanco, also of the PRD, presided over severe economic difficulties which led to rioting in 1984 in which 60 people died. The party split over the handling of the economy, helping Joaqu�n Balaguer to win a narrow majority in the 1986 elections giving him a fifth presidential term. The 1990 elections were contested by two octogenarians, Dr Balaguer (83) and Dr Juan Bosch (80), now of the Partido de la Liberaci�n Dominicana (PLD). Dr Balaguer won a sixth term of office by a very narrow majority, which was subjected to a verification process after Dr Bosch alleged fraud had taken place in the capital. The May 1994 elections had the same outcome, after Balaguer had decided very late in the campaign to stand for re-election. His chief opponent was Jos� Francisco Pe�a G�mez of the PRD. First results gave Balaguer the narrowest of victories. Pe�a G�mez, supported by many outside observers, claimed that fraud had taken place and the election was reviewed by a revision committee appointed by the Central Electoral Junta. The committee found numerous irregularities, but its findings were ignored by the Junta which awarded victory to Balaguer, once again by the narrowest of margins. To defuse the crisis, Balaguer signed a pact with Pe�a G�mez allowing for new elections in November 1995; Congress rejected this date, putting the new election back six months to 16 May 1996. Pe�a G�mez and the PRD, angry at Congress' decision, boycotted Balaguer's inauguration. Presidents since 1966: 1966 - 1978 Dr. Joaqu�n Balaguer 1978 - 1982 Dr. Antonio Guzm�n 1982 - 1986 Dr. Salvador Jorge Blanco 1986 - 1996 Dr. Joaqu�n Balaguer 1996 - 2000 Dr. Leonel Fernandez 2000 - 2004 Hip�lito Mej�a |