22 Facts About Eduardo Estrella

Rafael Eduardo Estrella Virella was born on June 5,1953 and is a civil engineer and Dominican politician, former senator and president of the Senate of the Dominican Republic from 2020 to 2023.

Eduardo Estrella was the first presidential candidate of the Social Christian Reformist Party after the death of its leader, Dr Joaquin Balaguer, after being elected in March 2003 as a presidential candidate of that organization.

Rafael Eduardo Estrella Virella was born on June 5,1953, the son of Mayor General Guarionex Estrella and Mabel Elisa Virella de Estrella and grandson of General Pedro Antonio Estrella.

Eduardo Estrella's siblings are Paula, Mabel, Guarionex and Rosa Margarita.

Eduardo Estrella married Arelis Cruz Estrella and they have three children: Paula Isabel, Eduardo Guarionex and Elisa Mabel.

Eduardo Estrella is the nephew of the national hero Salvador Estrella Sadhala.

Eduardo Estrella is married to Arelis Cruz de Estrella and they have three children.

In 1961, when Eduardo Estrella was 8 years old, his father was arrested and tortured under suspicion of complicity in the assassination of dictator Rafael Trujillo.

Eduardo Estrella describes this as the formative event of his youth.

Eduardo Estrella is from the second largest city in the Dominican Republic, Santiago, known as a breeding ground for politicians.

Eduardo Estrella began his primary education at the Colegio Calasanz de Santo Domingo, continuing at the Colegio de la Salle in the city of Santiago de los Caballeros, which took place in high school.

Eduardo Estrella graduated from the Autonomous University of Mexico with a civil engineering degree, and PRSC President Balaguer appointed him second secretary at the Dominican Embassy in Mexico City.

Eduardo Estrella returned to the Santiago area and served as president of the Northern Regional Dominican School of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors.

Eduardo Estrella returned to his elected position in the Senate from 1994 to 1998.

Eduardo Estrella was politicized early and has described himself as a "Reformista at birth" He began his political career at age 19, when Balaguer appointed him as a Second Secretary in the Dominican Embassy in Mexico.

Eduardo Estrella established a personal relationship with Balaguer after inviting Balaguer to his wedding to Arelis Cruz.

Eduardo Estrella appeared as a personal favorite of Balaguer, as indicated by a series of increasingly important positions during the second Balaguer administration, including Undersecretary of Public Works, Director of the National Institute for Potable Water and Sewage Treatment, and Secretary of State for Public Works.

Eduardo Estrella was hand-picked by Balaguer to stand for the Senate seat for the Province of Santiago in 1998, which he won.

Eduardo Estrella paved hundreds of miles of streets and avenues in the main cities of the national territory, covering every street reconstruction of each of the municipalities in the border region of the country, from Manzanillo to Pedernales.

Always standing by its cleanliness and honesty, being recognized by important figures in the construction sector in the Dominican Republic, such as Diego de Moya who outlines a brief history of how Eduardo Estrella saved money to the country and defended local businesses when he wrote an article entitled "Patriotism is to strengthen RD companies" in the Periodico el Caribe did publish.

Eduardo Estrella said his mission now is to launch an independent movement that stresses both morality and political activism - both themes of his unsuccessful primary campaign.

Eduardo Estrella had slid from prominence over the last several years and there is no evidence to suggest that his departure will split the Party.