2024-05-29 11:27:12
The Dominican Republic elects its subsequent president this Sunday, with outgoing president Luis Abinader favored for a second four-year time period as a result of growth within the economic system and his harsh insurance policies in direction of neighboring Haiti.
The 2 international locations share the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, however there’s a stark distinction between the extra affluent Dominican Republic and its impoverished neighbor, mired in chaos and violence from the felony gangs that management a lot of its territory.
Greater than 8 of the 11.2 million Dominicans are referred to as to the polls for this course of the place Congress can also be renewed.
Though there are 9 candidates for president, Abinader seems within the polls because the positive winner, with 60% of the voting intention, adopted very far by former president Leonel Fernández (1996-2000, 2004-2012), with 25%.
– «Democratic maturity» –
All the pieces signifies that Abinader would have sufficient votes to keep away from a second spherical (50% of the vote + 1 vote).
“I voted for Abinader… he has truly performed a great authorities,” María Ramona Antonio, a 74-year-old dentist, instructed AFP. “Look how tourism goes, it’s the finest supply of labor for us… the roads constructed, these individuals in want who now have medical insurance,” she stated.
“Leonel have to be” the following president, stated Jonas Mancebo, a 32-year-old service provider, in a well-liked space of Santo Domingo. “Many issues can enhance.”
The electoral course of – which formally opened at 07:00 native time (11:00 GMT) – is creating usually. It would final till 5:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m.), and the primary outcomes bulletin is anticipated to reach three hours later.
It’s the second election that the nation has organized this yr, after the municipal elections in February by which Abinader’s Trendy Revolutionary Get together (PRM) swept and which consultants thought of a thermometer for the presidential election.
“It is a nation that has lots of democratic maturity,” Abinader celebrated after voting in Santo Domingo. “Dominican democracy is strengthened and will likely be strengthened.”
“We’re assured,” Fernández stated after voting in a working-class neighborhood of the capital. “Now we have seen nice attendance, attendance of Dominican residents at these polls.”
“To date no main or vital incidents have been reported, every little thing is going on usually,” added the opponent, who today warned concerning the previous follow of shopping for votes for a plate of meals.
– Haiti –
Abinader enjoys 70% approval, partially on account of his robust coverage in direction of Haitian migration, which he promised to take care of in an eventual second time period.
Since coming to energy, he has elevated immigration raids and multiplied deportations, constructed a wall on a part of the border with Haiti and closed migration from the neighboring nation.
“Haiti? What we would like is for all these individuals to go there for his or her Haiti, that affects us quite a bit,” stated Deisy Castillo, a 74-year-old voter.
«I like the present place of sustaining sovereignty; “I do not just like the abuse towards the Haitian brothers, however I do like a reasonably sturdy nationality coverage,” stated Javier Taveras, 38, who nonetheless expressed doubts concerning the border fence. “I do not understand how efficient it’s.”
Abinader additionally congratulates himself on the financial achievements of his administration: he speaks of excessive progress, inflation “throughout the vary” and low unemployment. The World Financial institution tasks a 5% enhance in GDP on the finish of the yr, as does the IMF, which highlights the nation’s “potential” “to change into a sophisticated economic system” within the coming many years.
Fernández, nonetheless, denounces manipulation of the figures and guarantees extra progress. “We are going to eat once more,” he repeats in a criticism of the rising value of the fundamental basket, which had a rise in 2023 of three.56% in comparison with 2022.
“I anticipate financial stability from the following authorities,” Taveras requested.
© Agence France-Presse
