President Leonel Fernández, in his National Dialogue (talks held with the participation of most sectors to define the national agenda through year 2000) closing speech, proclaimed the end of authoritarianism. The President expressed his concern that a new stage of democracy has come forth, where larger segments of the Dominican population are participating. The President is an advocate of "a participative democracy," versus a "representative democracy." In a nation where Congress has primarily responded to its own interests, the new style of democracy has its appeal.
