That part I get, but multi-party political systems are often adversarial in nature (hopefully non-violent). Even if Dominicans don't identify as left or right in the western sense, what would you say are the distinguishing features of each party. If you're American you know that gun rights is one of many current hot topics. Republicans for, Democrats against. Are there similar polar opposites on other subjects in the D.R.?
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Political ideology in the DR
That part I get, but multi-party political systems are often adversarial in nature (hopefully non-violent). Even if Dominicans don't identify as left or right in the western sense, what would you say are the distinguishing features of each party. If you're American you know that gun rights is one of many current hot topics. Republicans for, Democrats against. Are there similar polar opposites on other subjects in the D.R.?
thinking DR politics you have to completely forget about all that left/right/liberal/communists etc etc thinking/categorizing.
politics here always been finally done by Tradition, by guys from families who been and are the powerful people in the country.
corruption been the biggest problem and sure will not be solved in one sweep.
when polititians and the people set in power of lucrative jobs by thosepolititians, are family to each other, then you will not find any person with real influence ho would have the intention to stop all those family businesses/lucrative jobs to hand out.
nobody knows the real volume of election assitance moneys coming from the Narcos, from the BIG Narcos, but they are Huge, I would guess they are very significantly Huge.
I see the big difference between old and new party/gevernment, that the PRM is a fairly young crowd, they are a ew political movement who seem to try to get rid of the old crusts.
if they really will do/want to do, time will tell. to me they seem to be willing to run things very different.
but we all now that election promises and later on reality are not always running in the same race, so only time will tell.
that the sanitary/hospital sector need approvement, well, covid showed the whole world that thing, so I await to see big improvements there.
the new party, based on a failrly young crowd and speaking towards the younger generation, I expect to improve the way of the youth, means the educational system.
as for Tourism,which actually is nuked down to zero, the old gov did not any bad job on that sector, tourism was for them always a golden cow to milk, so they took not that bad care of that one.
the new Presi is a professional on that sector, so he has the obligation to do that even better, as it will also suit him and family for long times after he will have left office.
corruption, well the big theme and neverending story.
to close some companies/entities/business(I don't even know how to name in english thosebillions per months eating conglomerates who doin reality Nothing for all the big salaries taen), to announce that, is at least a surprising and big step in a direction which I personally like.
looking to find those destins(bank accounts)where all those billions pesos go to with nothing of value inreturn.
I just hope they do not find those, just to adjust the money flow to new bank accounts connected to new family members, lol.
I do not see any reall ideology differences between the different DR parties.
politics here is something, that does not fit in the categories i know from Europe, and it does not fit in the way the USA is doing politics, IMHO.
politics here always been finally done by Tradition, by guys from families who been and are the powerful people in the country.
corruption been the biggest problem and sure will not be solved in one sweep.
when polititians and the people set in power of lucrative jobs by thosepolititians, are family to each other, then you will not find any person with real influence ho would have the intention to stop all those family businesses/lucrative jobs to hand out.
nobody knows the real volume of election assitance moneys coming from the Narcos, from the BIG Narcos, but they are Huge, I would guess they are very significantly Huge.
I see the big difference between old and new party/gevernment, that the PRM is a fairly young crowd, they are a ew political movement who seem to try to get rid of the old crusts.
if they really will do/want to do, time will tell. to me they seem to be willing to run things very different.
but we all now that election promises and later on reality are not always running in the same race, so only time will tell.
that the sanitary/hospital sector need approvement, well, covid showed the whole world that thing, so I await to see big improvements there.
the new party, based on a failrly young crowd and speaking towards the younger generation, I expect to improve the way of the youth, means the educational system.
as for Tourism,which actually is nuked down to zero, the old gov did not any bad job on that sector, tourism was for them always a golden cow to milk, so they took not that bad care of that one.
the new Presi is a professional on that sector, so he has the obligation to do that even better, as it will also suit him and family for long times after he will have left office.
corruption, well the big theme and neverending story.
to close some companies/entities/business(I don't even know how to name in english thosebillions per months eating conglomerates who doin reality Nothing for all the big salaries taen), to announce that, is at least a surprising and big step in a direction which I personally like.
looking to find those destins(bank accounts)where all those billions pesos go to with nothing of value inreturn.
I just hope they do not find those, just to adjust the money flow to new bank accounts connected to new family members, lol.
I do not see any reall ideology differences between the different DR parties.
politics here is something, that does not fit in the categories i know from Europe, and it does not fit in the way the USA is doing politics, IMHO.
Only had time to poll one person last night after reading this. I asked my GF who she voted for. Hmmm, Did you vote? Nope. Why? "There're all the same. Nothing ever changes no matter what they say. They are all B.S."
I think that’s what the OP, any many others here, are trying to understand. Just because one lives somewhere for many years doesn’t make it clear. I don’t claim to understand Dominican politics.
Mr AE is a politics junkie, DR and US. He (and most of his family) have been PRD as long as I can remember, going back to Pena Gomez. His split from them came over Miguel Vargas, who he strongly dislikes. What you all have to remember is the the major parties today are all splinters of the PRD, which was formed by Juan Bosch in Cuba, of all places, and began as a rather leftist Socialist party, but has moved to the center the past 20 years. In my opinion, only mine, Abinader has taken the PRM a little right of center. People were hungry for some stronger government leadership, elected PRM overwhelmingly, and now we will hopefully get to see what they do differently.
You are correct Ramesses, you are correct.
On the overnight I found myself pondering these very same thoughts.
Perhaps the new administration coming into order tomorrow, and the exact unknown of the direction many things may take starting Monday has many on edge, myself included. I notice the streets are edgy as well this past week, with thoughts of an even more draconian curfew currently on the table.
I will add more fresh fruit to my diet, and enjoy the day with my guests. Some sun will work wonders.
Perfect example of an item that is not political in nature here, but is within your home nation. Gun rights.
Not an issue here within RD, but for you yes, because it is a part of your Constitution. It is embedded in your democracy.
Another issue which does not play into politics here, is the atrociously cruel act of abortion. Again, another political hotbed issue in your nation, but not here.
As far as the multi-party political systems being adversarial in nature with a violent twinge, unfortunately this is a very real intangible here within RD, even in this modern day/age. There was a life lost in Santo Domingo on election day, in direct relation to alleged fraud at a polling station. Elsewhere nationwide, there were reports of sporadic gunfire. It is this sort of blight, caused by ignorant thugs, which causes many decent persons to avoid the process clearly. This has been a historical challenge, but does seem to be lessening, to a degree.
As I am sure Mr AE can attest.....
Sometimes it is as simple and comes down to that this person is not affiliated with that person, or that person with this person......all because of something that may have happened 25-30 years ago.
It could have been something as slight as not downplaying another candidate, or his position publicly. The horrible approach of not taking a proper stand.
Agreed that it may not be easy for a foreigner to grasp.
I am sure there have been many mornings in your household when you thought the coffee may fly, or an ambulance may be needed, all in the name of Dominican politics.
OK, so I can understand why gun right and abortion aren't relevant here. But what about other things like environmental issues, strays, trash (maybe part of environmental), and probably other things I forget about here? Do the 2 main parties have different views on how to address the issues?
Oh yea, the Haitian issue, which is kinda like our build the wall issue too. Do the 2 parties differ significantly on this?
For many foreigners who live here, it is difficult to understand the nuances of the political scene, especially if insufficient knowledge of Spanish makes taking in local news or talking in depth with Dominicans hard. I think that being able to discuss it here in order to gain a better understanding WITHOUT verbal abuse is very useful.
Dominican politics is further right wing than say in much of Europe or North America. With the exception of socialist parties, which are extremely small without exception, the typical leftist party would still be considered right wing if they were in Europe.
Both major parties are left-center, technically the PRM is slightly more left than PLD. There is a twist to this and its that the current team of Abinader is the most oligarchical in decades, considering who are the people appointed to several positions in different departments. It looks as of now that the PRM is more to the right than the PLD (Medina's team, Leonel's team is more right than Medina's but more left than Abinader's).
As for ideologies, that doesn't exist anymore. The 2000-2010 period basically made political parties non-ideological ones. This lack of ideology is why any single political party can lean further right or further left depending on who is leading and his team. All of this in a political system that is further right than in Europe, as previously said. Anyone that tries to understand Dominican politics based on traditional ideologies are bound to get confused, because many things don't make sense anymore from an ideological point of view.
Its safe to assume that since the mid-90's, the DR is transitioning away from politicians to business people, as it was in the 60's, 70's, and 90's (under Balaguer, because under Leonel control of the country started to shift away from business people).
Both major parties are left-center, technically the PRM is slightly more left than PLD. There is a twist to this and its that the current team of Abinader is the most oligarchical in decades, considering who are the people appointed to several positions in different departments. It looks as of now that the PRM is more to the right than the PLD (Medina's team, Leonel's team is more right than Medina's but more left than Abinader's).
As for ideologies, that doesn't exist anymore. The 2000-2010 period basically made political parties non-ideological ones. This lack of ideology is why any single political party can lean further right or further left depending on who is leading and his team. All of this in a political system that is further right than in Europe, as previously said. Anyone that tries to understand Dominican politics based on traditional ideologies are bound to get confused, because many things don't make sense anymore from an ideological point of view.
Its safe to assume that since the mid-90's, the DR is transitioning away from politicians to business people, as it was in the 60's, 70's, and 90's (under Balaguer, because under Leonel control of the country started to shift away from business people).
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Correct you are. Perhaps I'll just respond in Spanish, so as not to have my comments based in truth misinterpreted as verbal abuse.
As mentioned previously, many have been on edge this week. Myself included.
I will work on my tan today, and attempt to sweat out the impurities.
Sorry if you thought I was referring to you with the "verbal abuse" comment. I was talking more in general.
I wish I could get some of that DR sun....it is always the best warmth. But alas...I am stuck here in Canada. Best of luck to the people of the DR. Hopefully the new administration has the best intentions for the people and things will seem brighter in the very near future.
Could it be the main parties and the majority of Dominicans fundamentally are in agreement with the existing system. They just want to improve it. So there is not a strong movement to change the system. I refer to especially the economic system. I don’t know If I agree with you it being very right leaning. They have labor laws protecting workers and they are trying with the public health care and PRM wants to improve that and introduce universal health care. I think I read that somewhere.
Agreed, nothing like the USA at all.
I see it just like Bob Saunders said, "Both main parties have socialist beginnings but when governing become Kleptocracies. We can only hope this version will be different."
Regarding the Haitian issue, the RD is it's own sovereign nation. I believe both parties understand this.
The dark clouds occupying this day do not seem to be in agreement. Following a lovely lunch of Asopao de Mariscos, it seems that rain drops will be the calling order for the time being. Hopefully, this too shall pass. It usually does.