A motorcyclist passes by a voting center this Friday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 17 May 2024.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic CNN —
The Dominican Republic is days away froma general election that will see voters elect new lawmakers and the presidentas they weigh the nation’s economy and security.
Among those seeking the Caribbean nation’s highest officeon May 19are the current president, a former president, and a mayor. If no presidential candidate receives over 50% of the vote, a second round will be held on June 30. Here’s a look at the candidates and issues:
President Luis Abinader promises ‘the change continues’
The Dominican Republic’s current president, Luis Abinader, is seeking re-election for a second term that would keep him in office until 2028.The 56-year-oldeconomist and businessman first assumed the presidency in 2020, in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic – following in the footsteps of his senator father, a three-time presidential candidate.
Leading the ballot of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) with his slogan “The change continues,”the popular leaderis nowpromising four more years of economic growth and stability.During hisfirsttermfrom2020to2024, theDominican Republicestablished a new recordin the tourism industry,with more than 10 million tourists visiting the island in2023.
Experts now expect Abinader to focus on the priorities of his first term, expanding on development, reform, and the fight against corruption. He has promised reforms for the National Police, health sector, and education.
Abinader’sgovernmenthas shown a commitment to addressing long-standing challengesintheenergysector.But the World Bank saysthe Dominican Republichas more work to doinincreasing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the sector; continuing with the diversification ofthe energy matrix among others.
“Abinader has a first rate and well-coordinated economic team,” says economist and formerDominicanambassador to the US, Bernardo Vega.ButVeganotes thatincreasedlosses in the electric distribution system–anda resultingincrease inexternaldebt–have notreflected well on his administration.
President and candidate for reelection Luis Abinader (L) and the official candidate for senator for the National District Guillermo Moreno attend a campaign event in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 11 May 2024.
Abinader’s handling ofa spiralingpolitical and social crisisinneighboring Haitihas also had mixed reviews.Forvoters living close to the border, the question of whether measures like deportations and closing the country’s border to Haiti have been effective in insulating the Dominican Republic from shocks in Port-au-Prince will be top of mind, according to political analyst Rosario Espinal.
During his2020campaign run,Abinaderpromised to fight corruption, and later appointed what he described asthecountry’s“first independent”attorneygeneral.
Criticsargue that his administration’s anti-corruption pushfocuseddisproportionately on members of the Dominican Liberation Party,which held power for many yearsbefore Abinader’s election.
Nevertheless, experts say the crackdown on corruption, along with his handling of the pandemic, are widely seen as achievements.
Former President Leonel Fernández seeks re-election – for the fourth time
A familiar face to voters will be Leonel Fernández, 70, who has already held the Dominican presidency three times: from 1996 to 2000, from 2004 to 2008 and from 2008 to 2012.
Fernandez is most knownmodernizing the Dominican Republic’sstate institutions and justice system, including the constitutional reform that led to the 2010 Constitution, according to experts.
One of his major contributions was during his first term when Fernandez privatized the energy distribution sector andsold shares to private investors in theelectricitycompanies that until thenhad beenowned by the government,according toVega.
Former President of the Dominican Republic and presidential candidate of the People's Force party Leonel Fernandez greets supporters as he attends a closing campaign rally ahead of Sunday's election, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, May 15, 2024.
The ex-president is also recognizedin the Dominican Republicforadvancing and building nationalinfrastructure,such asthe subway systemthattransformed the capital city of Santo Domingo.As a result,Fernandez’s presidencieshadamajor impact on tourism in the eastern region, expertssay.
But many voters will also likely remember that government corruption ran high duringhis 12 years as head of state, Vegasays.
Today,Fernandezheads the ticket of theForce of the Peopleparty, which he founded in November 2019 after losing the party primaries of his former party, the Dominican Liberation Party.
Recently, Fernandez has promised to push forth public policies aimed at reducing poverty, the construction of decent homes, better education, comprehensive health, and citizen security, among others.
Hisplatform has focused on inequality in the country, with “calls for wealth redistribution and social justice,” according to Americas Quarterly. The five-time presidential candidate has also reportedly said he would back a new United Nations peacekeeping mission to Haiti.
Abel Martínez: From prosecutor, deputy, mayor to trying to win the presidency
Abel Martínez, 51, is a Dominican politician, educator and lawyer with a wide-spanning career in public service. Most recently the mayor of Santiago until last month, Martinez got his start as deputy prosecutor in capital city Santo Domingo, and then as a prosecutor in Santiago in the 1990s.
He later became a deputy to the country’s National Congress, serving three terms from 2002 to 2016 and presiding over the Chamber of Deputies for six years.
Martinez is focused on heightening tech across multiple sectors, per Americas Quarterly,as well as strengtheningthe country’s prison system and surveillance at the border with Haiti.
Martinez is focused on ending hunger and poverty, better education for students and teachers, and fightingcrime and citizen safety.
The youngest candidate running for presidentalso campaignsagainst illegal immigration, especially of Haitians.
Martinez poses during an interview with EFE, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 13 May 2024.
Crime and safety and inflation on the ballot
Crime and safety are among the biggest concerns of Dominicansin this election, according to several surveys, although government data indicates that crime has decreased in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2023, withthehomiciderate falling by 30.2%.
Since June 2023, the US State DepartmenthasmaintainedaLevel 2 travel advisory fortheDominican Republic and recommends tourists exercise increased cautiondue to crime.
Pablo Flores resides in Santo Domingo and has his own business, a mini market. At one point, rampant crime forced him to temporarily shutter the business, he recalls. Today, for fear of being robbed, he has taken his own precautions; a fence protects the entire perimeter of his small business.
“If I don’t take care of myself, who is going to take care of me? Crime must go down because it’s very high,” says Flores.
Hand-in-hand with street crime are the Dominican Republic’s economic woes.
According tothe World Bank, over the last two decades, the Dominican Republic has been one of the fastest-growing economies in Caribbean.
Yet the drivers of this exceptional growthappear to bereaching their limit due to low productivity growth in recent years, insufficient human capital to meet the needs of the business sector, climate change-related disasters, and distortions in key markets, including the inefficient allocation of tax exemptions,according tothe World Bank.
And while theDominican economy grew by 4.9% last year,high inflation rates inboth2022(8.8%)and 2023 (4.8%)have taken a toll on the population’s quality of life.
People wait in Ouanaminthe, Haiti to cross into Dajabon, Dominican Republic, Friday, May 17, 2024. The Dominican Republic’s election on May 19 has been marked by calls for more migratory crackdowns and finishing a border wall dividing the countries.
Yoely Escarlante, a mechanic, says he is struggling to support his four children, and keeps his small workshop in Santo Domingo open rain or shine.
There are days when he can earn up to $100 (between 5,000 and 6,000 Dominican pesos) in a day, according to his calculations. But some days, he doesn’t earn a dime, he says.
The economic situation is also of great concern for Ney Segura, a public transportation driver. “The money just doesn’t cut it,”hesays. In his view, “the poor are poorer.”
More than 40% of Dominicans are economically vulnerable and are at risk of falling into poverty due to climate-related impacts and economic crises, according to the World Bank. Likewise, gender gaps in jobs and wages, shorter working lives, and higher unemployment and unpaid roles contribute to increased poverty among women in particular, it says.
