Leonel Fernandez, president of the Dominican Republic, will speak about the global economic crisis and its impact on Latin America at The George Washington University Tuesday.
President Fernandez will speak at 10 a.m. at the Jack Morton Auditorium in the School of Media and Public Affairs.
“The George Washington University continues to engage the world and provide our students and faculty with unique opportunities to hear directly from leaders on issues affecting our nation and world,” said Lorraine Voles, vice president for external relations.
When President Fernandez was 9 years old, he moved with his family to New York City. After finishing high school, he returned to the Dominican Republic and enrolled in the Faculty of Law of the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), where he received a doctorate in law and graduated magna cum laude. He later became a professor at UASD and taught media law, history, sociology of communication and international relations.
President Fernandez was first elected president in 1996. During his first four-year term, he implemented economic reforms that brought the country an average growth rate of 7 percent – the highest in Latin America at the time. He also invested in infrastructure such as highways and tunnels and supported foreign investment.
During the most intense economic crisis in the country’s history, President Fernandez was re-elected in 2004. He signed an agreement with the International Monetary Fund to restore fiscal discipline and implemented expenditure control. He also created new jobs, increased international reserves, signed trade agreements and promoted education. In 2008, he was re-elected again.