Leonel Fernández is a Dominican politician and lawyer who served as the President of the Dominican Republic three times, from 1996 to 2000, 2004 to 2008, and 2012 to 2016. He is a member of the Dominican Liberation Party and is known for his focus on economic development and modernization during his terms in office. Fernández was born on December 26, 1953, in Santo Domingo. He studied law at Dartmouth College and later earned a doctorate in international law. Throughout his career, he has been involved in various international organizations and has played a significant role in regional politics in the Caribbean and Latin America.