Miguel Octavio Vargas Maldonado (born 26 September 1950) is a Dominican civil engineer, businessman, and politician. He is the current chairman of the Dominican Revolutionary Party, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs. Biography Miguel Vargas is the extra marital son of Altagracia Maldonado and Pedro Antonio Rivera Abreu, an agro-industrial businessman and politician. Vargas is named after the husband of his mother, Octavio Vargas. Vargas studied at the Colegio San Juan Bosco, where obtained his high school diploma. Afterwards, he pursued a Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico. Upon graduation, Vargas began his professional life as a supervising engineer in the engineering department and buildings of the Compañía Dominicana de Teléfonos (CODETEL). Years later, he founded Planinco, his first engineering firm. Vargas received a substantial inheritance from his biological father, who was serving as senator for La Vega Province when he died in a car accident in 1994. Vargas is currently married to María de los Ángeles García Frangie, and has three children: Alberto Manuel, Alan Omar, and Miguel Paúl. Political life Miguel Vargas Maldonado began his political career in the mid-1970s, the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), which has fought for nearly forty years. In the party leadership he has held the roles of Vice President, member of the Presidium, a member of the National Executive Committee (CEN) and the Political Commission and National Secretary of Finance. Between 1982 and 1984, in the government of Salvador Jorge Blanco (PRD 1982–1986), he was director general of the "Water Supply and Sewerage Corporation of Santo Domingo CAASD". In the government of Hipolito Mejia (2000–2004), it was "Secretary of State for Public Works and Communications". He was appointed as Chancellor of the Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina by 16 August 2016. Primary Dominican Revolutionary Party (2007) On 28 January 2007, Vargas Maldonado beat his opponent Milagros Ortiz Bosch, with about 80% of the votes, thus becoming the official candidate of the PRD to the Presidency of the Republic for the elections of 16 May 2008. Campaign proposals as a presidential candidate election 2008 Vargas Maldonado said that, if elected president in 2008, would cut taxes in order to boost the economy. Grant 50% of charges of public administration to women, and increase spending on social investment. His election campaign was based on his proposals to deal with pressing problems of the Dominican people as unemployment, crime, homelessness