Porfirio Diaz

Porfirio Díaz was a Mexican general and politician who served seven terms as President of Mexico, a total of 31 years, from 1876 to 1911. His period of rule, referred to as the Porfiriato, was marked by great progress and modernization, and the Mexican economy boomed. However, he also suppressed civil liberties, rigged elections, and marginalized the majority of the population, especially the indigenous peoples. He faced several rebellions and attempted coups, but managed to maintain his power until the Mexican Revolution of 1910, which forced him to resign and go into exile in France, where he died in 1915. He is considered one of the most controversial figures in Mexican history, praised for his achievements but also criticized for his authoritarianism and corruption.