A Mark Penn poll reveals that Dominicans have cooled off on political parties. 58% of those polled now say they are independent, 29% say they follow the ruling PLD, 9% the PRM, 3% the PRD and 1% the PRSC.
This is the highest number of independents since the polls were first conducted in 1982. The US political pollsters say that the number of independents has increased from 36% in January 2017 to 58% today.
The number of those that favor the ruling PLD party has dropped from 41% to 29%. The analysts say that the switch of voter party preference from being PLD supporters to being independent creates much volatility and uncertainty within the 2020 electoral panorama for the Dominican Republic.
The poll numbers of self-proclaimed independents is 74% among those 18-24 years old that make up the largest voter segment in the country. This is up from 43% in April 2016. Only 15% of the 18-24 voters described themselves as PLD followers.
Among a list of 14 political leaders, the Vice President Margarita Cedeño is the most popular with 70% favorable and 26% not favorable. Her favorability has increased 14 points since May 2016. That popularity has been maintained as in November 2012 it was 60/23 and in April 2013 51/31.
President Danilo Medina is the second most popular politician with 66/31, although he has dropped 17 points since May 2016. In November 2012, his popularity was 54/24 and in April 2013 61/21. Santo Domingo Mayor David Collado of the PRM also has a high popularity: 56/24. Former PRM presidential candidate, Luis Abinader, is rated 51/39, but has risen 20 points since May 2016. In April 2013 he rated 18/61. Former President Leonel Fernández and president of the ruling PLD is 42% favorable and 56% not favorable, but has risen 11 points since May 2016. In 2013 and 2012 he was seen less favorably: 24/62 and 29/53. Former President Hipólito Mejía of the PRM is frowned upon, with just 32 favorable and 63 not favorable.
The poll was carried out 30 September to 3 October 2017, with 1,000 persons polled. The margin of error is + – 3.1%.
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Noticias SIN
18 October 2017
