The Dominican Republic mourns the death of Ramón Alburquerque Ramírez, a towering figure in the nation’s political landscape and a former president of the Senate. Alburquerque passed away on 30 January 2026, at the age of 76, following a courageous battle with liver cancer.
His family confirmed that he died in Santo Domingo shortly after returning from the United States, where he had been undergoing specialized medical treatment.
A legacy of legislative power
A chemical engineer by trade, Alburquerque was known for his sharp intellect and a political career that spanned over four decades. He was a central pillar of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) before becoming a founding leader of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM).
His influence was most felt in the halls of Congress. He served four consecutive terms as senator for the Monte Plata province and presided over the Senate for three terms. He was instrumental in passing transformative laws, including the Social Security System Law (87-01) and the Hydrocarbons Law, which modernized the nation’s energy and social welfare frameworks.
Beyond the legislature, he held high-ranking positions such as Minister of Economy, Planification and Development, and president of the Dominican Petroleum Refinery (Refidomsa). His last position in government was as the director of the Empresa Minera Dominicana (Emidom) to develop rare earth element reserves in the southwest.
National honors
President Luis Abinader issued Decree 62-26, declaring 1 February 2026, a day of official mourning. Flags across the country were flown at half-mast to honor a man described by the presidency as a “distinguished citizen” whose life was dedicated to the democratic strengthening of the country.
State funeral honors were held at the National Assembly, where lawmakers and citizens gathered to pay their final respects to a leader known for his fiery rhetoric and unwavering commitment to public debate.
“Ramón Alburquerque was not just a politician; he was a master of the legislative craft whose contributions to our legal framework will be felt for generations,” reads the Presidential Decree calling for the official mourning.
Before his health worsened, Ramón Alburquerque had been involved with the development of rare earth elements.
He remembered for his role in radio broadcasting. In recent years, he served as coordinator and interviewer for the “Los Sabios en la Z” aired on Z101.3FM on Sundays that often lasted for several hours focusing on science, history, economics and geopolitics.
Alburquerque ,nevertheless, is best remembered for his legendary expression: “entren to.” His expression “¡Entren to’, coño!” would become part of Dominican political history. The phrase originated on 25 January 1999, during a period of intense political tension in the Dominican Republic. At the time, Alburquerque was the president of the Senate and a high-ranking leader of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD).The incident occurred at the headquarters of the Liga Municipal Dominicana (LMD) in Santo Domingo following a dispute over the election of the Secretary General of the LMD. The PRD and the governing party (PLD) were locked in a power struggle for control of the institution.
On the day of the scheduled assembly, the government ordered the National Police to surround and block the building to prevent PRD delegates and mayors from entering. Alburquerque, leading the group of PRD representatives, arrived at the scene. Facing a police blockade and metal barricades, he engaged in a physical struggle with the officers. In a moment of high tension and defiance, he knocked down a fence and shouted the command to his followers: “¡Entren to’, coño!” (Everybody get in, damn it!).
The expression became a symbol of political confrontation and defiance against executive power. While some critics pointed to it as an example of the “strongman” or aggressive style of politics, many of his supporters viewed it as a gesture of bravery and a defense of democratic rights against government interference.
Decades later, the phrase remained so iconic that Alburquerque used it as a formal campaign slogan—”Entren To”—during his bid for the presidential nomination of the PRM (Modern Revolutionary Party) for the 2024–2028 cycle.
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2 February 2026