The three leading political parties need to concentrate on garnering supporters in nine provinces and the National District (Santo Domingo) in order to gain majority in the Chamber of Deputies. Congressional elections are set for 16 May 2006.
At present, the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) has the most seats, but it does not have majority. The PLD and the PRSC seek to increase their presence in the lower house. The PRD has majority in the Senate.
Listin Diario reports today that there will be 28 new deputy seats, increasing the number of deputies from 150 to 178. This is because of the increase in population. The Province of Santo Domingo, that has the largest population of any province, has the most deputy seats with 37. The National District has 19 seats; Santiago has 15; San Cristobal 12; La Vega 8, Duarte (San Francisco de Macoris) seven, San Juan de la Maguana and Puerto Plata six, San Pedro de Macoris seven and Espaillat five.
In the municipal election, there will be 17 new mayor posts, as the number of municipalities has increased from 133 to 150, plus the National District, also due to the increase in population.