TIME: Almanac 1995

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<text id=93CT1674> <link 90TT1361> <title> Dominican Republic--History </title> <history> Compact ALMANAC--CIA Factbook Caribbean Dominican Republic </history> <article> <source>CIA World Factbook</source> <hdr> History </hdr> <body> In 1492, Columbus discovered the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic), which became the jumping-off point for Spaniards exploring the New World. In 1496, the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere, Santo Domingo, was founded. Later, the French settled the western end of the island, and in 1697, Spain ceded that portion to France. In 1804, it became the Republic of Haiti. The Haitians conquered the whole island in 1822 and held it until 1844, when Juan Pablo Duarte, the hero of Dominican independence, led a movement that drove out the Haitians and established the Dominican Republic as an independent state. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire; in 1865 independence was restored. In 1905, after years of financial trouble largely brought about by civil wars, the U.S. Government established a receivership over the Dominican customs on behalf of U.S. bondholders. More difficulties with foreign creditors, the threat of European intervention, and continuing internal disorders led, in 1916, to occupation of the Dominican Republic by the U.S. Marines and the establishment of a military government. This occupation ended in 1924, when a freely elected Dominican government took office. In 1930, Rafael L. Trujillo, who had come to prominence as commander of the army, took power. He established a dictatorship and maintained absolute political control until his assassination on May 30, 1961. This period saw considerable economic development (chiefly to the benefit of Trujillo and his supporters), intervention in the affairs of neighboring states, and severe repression of human rights. Before Trujillo's death, however, mismanagement and corruption had resulted in severe economic problems. In August 1960, the Organization of American States (OAS) imposed diplomatic sanctions against the Dominican Republic as a result of Trujillo's complicity in an attempt to assassinate President Romulo Betancourt of Venezuela. These sanctions remained in force after Trujillo's death. In November 1961, the Trujillo family was forced to leave the country. In January 1962, a Council of State, which included moderate opposition elements, with legislative and executive powers, was formed. OAS sanctions were lifted January 4, and after the resignation of President Joaquin Balaguer on January 16, the Council of State under President Rafael E. Bonnelly became the effective Dominican government. Following free elections in December 1962, Juan Bosch, of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), was inaugurated as president on February 27, 1963. Despite his reform program and respect for human rights, conflicts arose between the president and various opposition groups, and political controversy grew progressively more bitter nationwide. On September 25, 1963, President Bosch was overthrown by a military coup, and the government was turned over to a provisional civilian regime headed by the Triumvirate, a three-member junta. The Triumvirate continued earlier economic and social reforms, but austerity measures designed to cope with rising inflation spread discontent and increasing political unrest in late 1964-65. Another military coup on April 24, 1965, led to an outbreak of violence between military elements favoring the return to government of Juan Bosch (the "Constitutionalists") and those who proposed a military junta committed to early general elections (the "Loyalists"). On April 28, U.S. military forces landed to protect U.S. citizens and to evacuate U.S. and other foreign nationals. The situation in Santo Domingo continued to deteriorate into near anarchy. Communist leaders, many of whom were trained in Cuba, took increasing control of the revolutionary movement. More U.S. forces landed on April 30 to prevent a complete communist takeover. On May 6, the OAS formed an InterAmerican Peace Force to cooperate in establishing peace and conciliation. The peace force included the U.S. troops in the Dominican Republic and military elements from Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, Paraguay, and El Salvador. Negotiations with both sides by an OAS ad hoc committee resulted in the installation of an interim government headed by Provisional President Hector Garcia-Godoy. This government held elections in June 1966, witnessed by OAS observers, in which Joaquin Balaguer defeated Juan Bosch for the presidency by 57% of the total vote. President Balaguer assumed office on July 1, 1966, and the Inter-American Peace Force was completely withdrawn by September 21, 1966. President Balaguer, leader of the Reformist Party (now called the Social Christian Reformist Party-PRSC), subsequently was reelected to office in May 1970 and May 1974, both times after the major opposition parties withdrew late in the campaign. In his first term, Balaguer concentrated on reorganizing and normalizing government operations along with initiating economic reforms. Later, he emphasized infrastructure projects and pursued economic policies and programs that brought a period of remarkably sustained growth. In the May 1978 election, Balaguer was defeated in his bid for a fourth successive term by Antonio Guzman of the PRD. Guzman was inaugurated on August 16, marking the country's first peaceful transfer of power from one freely elected president to another. Guzman devoted attention and resources to rural infrastructure and agricultural development. Under his administration, human rights conditions improved, and the security forces were depoliticized. However, the country's economic growth was slowed, in part due to the effect of an increase in oil prices. The PRD presidential candidate, Salvador Jorge Blanco, won the 1982 elections, and the PRD gained a majority in both houses of Congress. Before Jorge assumed office, however, the nation was traumatized by the suicide of former President Guzman. As president, Jorge focused much attention on solving his country's serious economic problems. Growing trade deficits, caused in part by low world prices for sugar and other commodity exports, and a mounting debt service combined to create balance-of-payments difficulties. In response, the Jorge government carried out economic adjustment and recovery policies, including an austerity program in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The rising costs of basic food-stuffs and public uncertainty about austerity measures led in April 1984 to several days of the worst riots since the 1960s; however, the economic situation has improved since then. Balaguer, once again the presidential candidate of the Reformist-now PRSC-Party, won the May 1986 national elections, defeating PRD candidate Jacobo Majluta and third place finisher, former President Juan Bosch of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). Emphasizing the need to reactivate the economy, Balaguer took office on August 16. 1986. Current Political Conditions The Dominican Republic is geographically the largest and most populous democracy in the Caribbean. It has a stable, multiparty political system featuring rational elections every 4 years. On May 16, 1986, the Dominican people exercised their right to vote for the sixth time under the 1966 constitution. At stake were the presidency, vice presidency, all the congressional seats, and the municipal positions (mayors and city councilmen). Candidates representing 13 political parties and 3 independent municipal movements registered with the Central Electoral Board (JCE), the independent body charged with administering the elections, and appeared on the ballot. Recognized political parties include the PRD,which is affiliated with the Socialist International, the PRSC, tied to the International Christian Democratic political movement, the pro-Soviet Dominican Communist Party (PCD), and the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) of former President Juan Bosch. Six candidates contested the 1986 presidential election, with several minor parties allying with two of the three principal political parties (the PRD and PRSC). Election day May 16, was largely peaceful and incident-free, and election observers and political commentators acknowledged the elections were free and fair. Approximately 2.2 million of the 3 million registered Dominican voters went to the polls. As the votes were counted and preliminary results announced, Balaguer built a narrow, but steady lead over his principal rival, Jacobo Majluta of the PRD alliance. After a difficult and uncertain period in which the functioning and composition of the JCE was called into question, Majluta acknowledged Balaguer's electoral victory on May 28. During this period a Commission of Electoral Advisers, designated by President Jorge and led by the Archbishop of Santo Domingo, played an important role in keeping the electoral process on track. On July 12, the JCE officially certified Balaguer and his vice presidential running mate, Carlos Morales Troncoso, as the winners. In accordance with the constitution, the National Assembly (both houses of the Congress meeting together) declared Balaguer and Morales the President-elect and Vice President-elect on July 17. Balaguer won approximately 41.4% of the valid vote, with Majluta taking 39.3%. Third place finisher Juan Bosch (of the PLD) took more than 18%. Because of decisions rendered by the JCE as to the scope and validity of certain pre-election alliances and pacts, the PRSC alliance took 56 of the 120 deputyships in the lower house of Congress, along with 21 of the 30 Senate seats. The PRD alliance won 48 deputyships and 7 Senate seats, while the PLD took 16 and 2, respectively. Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, August 1987. </body> </article> </text>