Utilizing a legal framework dating back to the Trujillo era, President Luis Abinader has granted Dominican citizenship via “privileged naturalization” to 22 prominent foreign figures during his administration, Diario Libre reports. The list of beneficiaries spans a diverse spectrum, including former heads of state, political consultants, religious leaders, and cultural icons.
Under Law 1683 of 1948, the President of the Republic holds the authority to bypass standard immigration procedures to confer nationality upon individuals who have made “extraordinary contributions” to the nation’s social or economic fabric.
Records from the Legal Executive Branch reveal that Abinader has utilized this executive power more frequently than his predecessor. In his nearly six years in office, Abinader has issued 22 such decrees, surpassing the 18 granted by Danilo Medina over two full presidential terms.
Diario Libre reports that while most presidential activities are heavily publicized, the specific merits justifying these naturalizations are contained within decrees that the National Palace press team rarely disseminates to the general public.
Notable beneficiaries
The administration’s first privileged naturalization occurred on 2 October 2020, through Decree 517-20, benefiting José Bono Martínez, the former Spanish Minister of Defense and former President of the Congress of Deputies.
Other high-profile recipients include:
• Mauricio De Vengoechea (Colombia): The political strategist credited with designing the Modern Revolutionary Party’s (PRM) winning 2020 campaign strategy (Decree 278-21).
• Felipe González (Spain): The former Spanish Prime Minister (1982–1996) received his citizenship in a rare public ceremony in February 2022. Abinader described the veteran politician as a “loyal friend” of the Dominican Republic.
• Patricia Phelps de Cisneros (Venezuela): A world-renowned art collector and promoter of Latin American culture (Decree 399-21).
• Daniil Trifonov (Russia): The acclaimed concert pianist, who was granted citizenship in September 2024.
• Yaseen Pérez Gómez (Cuba): The athletic coach responsible for the international success of Dominican Olympic gold medal winner Marileidy Paulino.
Legal thresholds and oversight
The use of this power has not been without scrutiny regarding legal limits. Article 20 of Law 1683 stipulates that privileged naturalizations should ideally not exceed five individuals per year. However, in 2023, the administration recorded six cases, including Jesuit priest Jorge William Hernández Díaz and Spanish writer Óscar Mateo Zazo Martín.
The trend continued into 2025, with five citizenships granted to figures such as Ramón Ramos Urías (founder of Grupo Ramos), French economist Henri Hebrard, and Mexican archaeologist Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, famous for his work on the Templo Mayor project in Mexico City.
As of 11 March 2026, no new privileged naturalizations have been recorded for the current calendar year.
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Diario Libre
12 March 2026