Danilo Medina
Danilo Medina Sánchez (Spanish pronunciation: [daˈnilo meˈðina ˈsantʃes] : born 10 November 1951) is a Dominican politician who was President of the Dominican Republic from 2012 to 2020.
Danilo Medina | |
|---|---|
Danilo Medina, 2017 | |
| 53rd President of the Dominican Republic | |
| In office 16 August 2012 – 16 August 2020 | |
| Vice President | Margarita Cedeño de Fernández |
| Preceded by | Leonel Fernández |
| Succeeded by | Luis Abinader |
| Secretary of State of the Presidency | |
| In office 16 August 2004 – 8 November 2006 | |
| President | Leonel Fernández |
| Preceded by | Sergio Grullón |
| Succeeded by | César Pina Toribio |
| In office 16 August 1996 – 16 August 1999 | |
| President | Leonel Fernández |
| Preceded by | Rafael Bello Andino |
| Succeeded by | Alejandrina Germán |
| President of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 16 August 1994 – 16 August 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Norge Botello |
| Succeeded by | Ramón Fadul |
| President pro tempore of CELAC | |
| In office 28 January 2016 – 26 January 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Rafael Correa |
| Succeeded by | Salvador Sánchez Cerén |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 November 1951 Bohechío, Dominican Republic |
| Political party | Dominican Liberation Party |
| Spouse | Cándida Montilla (m. 1987) |
| Relations | Lucía Medina (sister) Francisco Caamaño (second-cousin) |
| Alma mater | Santo Domingo Institute of Technology |
| Signature | |
| Website | Personal website |
Medina previously served as Chief of Staff to the President of the Dominican Republic from 1996 to 1999 and from 2004 to 2006, and is a member of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). He won the May 2012 Dominican presidential election, defeating Hipòlito Mejía with 51% of the votes. On 15 May 2016, Danilo Medina leading a coalition of parties won the 2016 Dominican presidential election, defeating the leader of the opposition and PRM candidate Luis Abinader with 61.8% of the votes, the highest percentage received by a president elected in free elections since 1924 when Horacio Vásquez won the presidency with 69.8% of the ballots—surpassing Juan Bosch's record of 59.5% obtained in 1962, and Leonel Fernández's 57.1% of the votes obtained in 2004.
Medina's second term has been characterized as humane, transparent and goal-driven by its supporters. With a penchant for performing weekly visits to impoverished rural sections of the country, President Medina finished his second term with a 65% approval rate. However, during his second term there were attempts to seek a third term which was frustrated after a call from the US Department of State secretary Mike Pompeo.
Medina's family, including two of his brothers, are currently being investigated under allegations of corruption, involving traffic of influence by which they benefited under Medina presidency, obtaining multiple contracts and business with the State. As of November 2020, the investigation process had entered a new phase following the arrests of two of Medina's brothers.