President Luis Abinader received the Champion of Freedom Award (Campeón de la Libertad) bestowed by the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at Florida International University (FIU) during the think tank’s annual gala, held at the Trump National Doral on Saturday, 16 May 2026.
During his address in Miami upon receiving the award, the President called people to reflect. “The head of state further warned that freedom loses its meaning when it becomes detached from the common good, asserting that the greatest challenge facing modern democracies is finding a balance between protecting individual rights and ensuring collective responsibility.”
The Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom Champion of Freedom Dinner & Celebration is a prestigious event that brings together current and former heads of state, national and international senior government officials, business trailblazers, celebrities, and other influential leaders. The occasion celebrates the enduring principles of liberty while honoring those who have made significant contributions to advancing economic and individual freedom. The center highlighted that the 2026 event also celebrated the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, a defining moment in the history of democracy and liberty.
The Dominican Presidency press release says that the recognition serves as an international endorsement of the Dominican Republic’s economic trajectory, governance model, and growing influence in the Western Hemisphere.
Other recipients of awards this year were:
• Titan of Freedom: Gianni Infantino (President of FIFA)
• Vox Libertatis: Enrique Acevedo (Journalist and Anchor)
• Beacon of Freedom: Yotuel Romero (Cuban musician and activist behind Patria y Vida)
The President was accompanied by First Lady Raquel Arbaje, Minister of Housing and Edifications Víctor (Ito) Bisono, and Minister of Industry & Commerce Eduardo Sanz Lovaton. Abinader accepted the honor before an international audience of current and former heads of state, corporate leaders, and senior diplomats.
Following the ceremony and a scheduled roundtable discussion with FIU students and faculty, President Abinader returned to Santo Domingo on Sunday, 17 May 2026.
The Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom was established by the State of Florida in 2020. Operating as an independent, non-partisan, world-class think tank, the center focuses on the intersection of government policy and free-market economics. Its stated mission is to inform, influence, and inspire current and future leaders to develop innovative policies that advance individual liberty, economic freedom, and human prosperity.
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18 May 2026