Blanco, (Salvador) Jorge (1926– )

Dominican Republic left-wing politician, president 1982–86. A lawyer–politician noted for defending victims of political persecution, he joined the Senate as a member of the left-wing Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD). As president he steered a restrained course overseas, maintaining good relations with the USA and avoiding close association with communist Cuba, but the implementation of harsh austerity measures at home, necessitated by a collapse in the world sugar market, forfeited his government's popular support. The divided PRD was defeated in 1986 by the Christian Social Reform Party (PRSC), led by Joaquín Balaguer. In 1991 Blanco was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for misappropriation of public funds.

Despite the leftist credentials of his administration, the deteriorating economy had made it unable to keep its pledge to improve welfare services; instead, currency devaluation in April 1984 led to bloody price riots in Santo Domingo, claiming 60 lives. Corruption scandals and the adoption of stringent economic policies from 1985 in return for IMF loans further damaged his government's credibility.

Blanco first rose to prominence as attorney general in 1965 when the socialist Juan Bosch was attempting to force his way back to power. After the restoration of order, he was a member of the commission that negotiated the withdrawal of US troops from the country.