First Lady of the Dominican Republic

First Lady of the
Dominican Republic
Primera dama de la República Dominicana
Incumbent
Raquel Arbaje
since August 16, 2020
ResidenceNational Palace
Inaugural holderMicaela Antonia de Rivera de Soto
FormationNovember 14, 1844
(179 years ago) (1844-11-14)

The First Lady of the Dominican Republic (Spanish: Primera dama de la República Dominicana) the title referring to the wife, or designee, of the president of the Dominican Republic.[1][2][3][4] The official government Office of the First Lady was created by Decree 741-00 on September 10, 2000.[2]

The position of first lady is not a politically-mandated office, and the first lady plays no official role in the government of the Dominican Republic.[5] However, like many other spouses of heads of state and of government, the first lady of the Dominican Republic is a public figure who often contributes to philanthropic causes and acts as an unofficial representative for the head of state.[6] There is a government-funded Office of the First Lady, with a staff.[7]

Raquel Arbaje became the first lady on the election of her husband, Luis Abinader, as president in 2020.[7]

  1. ^ Perez, Celeste (2020-08-26). "Mujeres de poder: un recorrido por la historia de las primeras damas de la República". Listín Diario. Archived from the original on 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  2. ^ a b Perez, Celeste (2020-07-08). "¿Qué es y cómo funciona el Despacho de la Primera Dama?". Listín Diario. Archived from the original on 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  3. ^ Faxas, Natali (2014-10-03). "Las primeras damas, entre logros y críticas". El Caribe (Dominican Republic). Archived from the original on 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2021-08-14.
  4. ^ Despradel, Naya (2015-03-07). "Primeras damas dominicanas 1963-1988". El Caribe (Dominican Republic). Archived from the original on 2021-08-13. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  5. ^ "Dominican Republic: Constitutions". pdba.georgetown.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  6. ^ "First lady of the Dominican Republic and MESCYT allocate 500 scholarships to exemplary students". Dominican Republic. 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  7. ^ a b "First Lady of DR, Raquel Arbaje: 'a voice for those who have not had a voice'". Dominican Today. 2020-08-18. Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2021-03-02.