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Joaquin Balaguer

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World Leader

The Resume

    (September 1, 1906-July 14, 2002)
    Born in Villa Bisono, Dominican Republic
    Three-time president of the Dominican Republic (1960-62,1966-78,1986-96)

Why he might be annoying:

    He won several elections through fraud.
    His political opponents often ended up in jail or mysteriously disappeared.
    When George H.W. Bush asked, 'Must you be so repressive in your methods to counter opposition,' he replied, 'I don't tell you how to run your country, don't tell me how to run mine.'
    He celebrated the 500th anniversary of Columbus landing in the Americas by spending $200 million to build a 10-story lighthouse that is rarely lit due to its tendency to drain all the power out of Santo Domingo's electric grid.
    When he was 89 and blind, he challenged another politician to a duel. (He ultimately settled for denouncing his opponent in a speech before parliament instead.)

Why he might not be annoying:

    Even with his authoritarian tendencies, he was a step up from Rafael Trujillo.
    He was a staunch anti-Communist and steadfast ally of the US.
    When he lost the presidential election to Antonio Guzman (1978), it marked the first time in the history of the Dominican Republic that a president peacefully transferred power to the opposition.
    One writer said of his personal life, 'He had no known vices, except a lust for power.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 8 Votes: 87.50% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 14 Votes: 92.86% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying