PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC — Speaking at the 30th iteration of the annual Forum 2000 Conference in the Czech capital on Tuesday, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader laid out the significant strides his nation has made in reinforcing democratic governance, spotlighting three core pillars of its success: peaceful transfer of executive authority, transparent electoral processes, and unwavering institutional independence.
Beyond democratic frameworks, Abinader pointed to tangible proof of the country’s stable governance, highlighting the operational independence of two key state bodies — the Attorney General’s Office and the Central Bank. He also noted that the Dominican Republic has attracted record-breaking levels of foreign direct investment even as economic growth slows across much of the Latin American and Caribbean region. As further evidence of the country’s entrenched institutional stability, Abinader pointed to the successful 2024 general elections held earlier this year.
In a candid assessment of democratic threats across Latin America, the president identified a persistent critical challenge: incumbent leaders who push through constitutional changes to extend their hold on power. Abinader emphasized that his own administration has set a clear counterexample by championing constitutional reforms that bar him from extending his presidency — a move his government advanced even while holding enough congressional support to have pushed through a change that would benefit him politically.
Reaffirming his commitment to respecting the constitution, Abinader stated clearly that he will step down from office when his term concludes in August 2028. He stressed that strong, independent democratic institutions are a legacy that must be protected for coming generations, rather than eroded for short-term political gain. In framing the Dominican Republic’s progress, Abinader drew comparisons to other nations in the region: he contrasted his country’s trajectory with the well-documented institutional challenges facing Nicaragua and Cuba, while holding up Uruguay and Chile as regional models of robust democratic governance.
“Strengthening democracy cannot be separated from improving the daily lives of ordinary people,” Abinader told attendees of the conference. He argued that effective democratic governance requires not just open dialogue, transparency, and a willingness to accept constructive criticism, but also the willingness to make hard, decisive decisions when needed. To address evolving global and regional challenges, Abinader called for democratic systems across the world to be reinforced through unwavering principle, public integrity, and ongoing institutional renewal.
After concluding his address at the conference, Abinader held a closed-door meeting with Jakub Klepal, executive director of the Forum 2000 initiative. The conference, which has focused on advancing global democracy and civil society since its founding in 1997, drew policymakers, activists, and heads of state from dozens of nations for its 30th anniversary gathering.