Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

President Fernandez attending the
graduation of various infantry classes, 1997
Courtesy Embassy of the Dominican Republic,
Washington
undo the decision, saying that the armed forces "would not
omit efforts to guarantee public peace and the tranquillity and
serenity that the Dominican family enjoys."
A post-election agreement in 1994 limited Balaguer's term to
two years, and lawyer Leonel Fernandez Reyna, new head of
the PRD, won in a run-off election. Soon after taking office in
1996, President Fernandez undertook efforts to reprofessionalize
the military leadership, which had become preoccupied
with its own enrichment under Balaguer's policy of granting
economic and commercial privileges. He retired twenty-four of
the country's seventy generals, most of whom were considered
allies of Balaguer. The president also replaced the head of the
navy, the head of the air force, the head of the state intelligence
service, and the commander of the second brigade.
Admiral Ruben Paulino Alvarez continued as secretary of state
for the armed forces. Although Fernandez faces opposition
from pro-Balaguer factions in the officer corps, he may be able
to count on a more liberal group of officers to support him in
the transition to a more democratic style of government.
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