Santo Domingo.- Former President Leonel Fernández has raised concerns about the Dominican Republic’s economic trajectory, citing the peso’s sharp devaluation, declining international reserves, and rising interest rates. In his latest Global Observatory column, he warned that these factors threaten businesses, families, and overall financial stability.
Fernández criticized the government’s failure to control exchange rate volatility, noting that the peso has already surpassed the projected depreciation for the entire year, reaching RD$63.44 per dollar. He highlighted that the Central Bank’s reserves have dropped from US$16,200 million in mid-2023 to US$12,605 million in early 2025, weakening its ability to stabilize the economy.
He also warned that rising interest rates are burdening businesses, especially small and medium enterprises. With predictions that the dollar could reach RD$70 by year’s end, Fernández urged authorities to take decisive action to prevent further economic deterioration and restore confidence in the financial system.
