It’s official. The Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) declared 52-year old businessman Luis Abinader its presidential candidate for the 17 May 2020 election. The announcement was made during the PRM convention of party delegates held on Saturday, 26 October 2019.
In his acceptance speech, Abinader spoke of the negatives of the continuation in power of the same ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). He highlighted that the permanence in government had erased the separation of powers in government and the checks and balances that should exist in government. He remarked many government officers today confuse the public budget with their private patrimony.
“The ruling party must not continue to govern not only because it does it wrong, but because it cannot govern itself,” stated Abinader. “In short, bad policy governs us without plans or solutions. Their only objective is to please themselves.”
He said bad politics have led to times of insecurity, unemployment, high cost of living, corruption and impunity. Abinader is campaigning with proposals to enact a comprehensive security plan to revert the present situation where law-abiding citizens are prisoners of the criminals that roam free on city streets.
“We will guarantee the prevention and deterrence of crime through public policies to support homes run by single mothers, the generation of job opportunities, incentives for entrepreneurship, incentives to attend school, vocational education in all neighborhoods, information and training on alcohol and drug abuse, the promotion of culture and the promotion of sports,” said Abinader.
“We will strengthen the system of control and prosecution of crime by transforming the current police into a modern and efficient police force, focused on the community, citizens and social service; and bringing dignity to police work through a minimum wage of US$500 a month,” he stated.
He also vowed to activate a system of consequences through an independent Attorney General Office.
Abinader announced plans to issue tax incentives to companies that hire young people and entrepreneurs.
He spoke of efforts to change the standing of the Dominican Republic as the second most corrupt country in the world, according to Transparency International. “Corruption steals not only the budget, but also the future of citizens. That is why we are committed to carrying out reforms that will ensure the effective functioning of the system of consequences,” said Abinader in his acceptance speech. He proposed a national pact to remove politics from the Judicial Branch.
Abinader said he wants to be President “to make a radical change in the Dominican Republic.”
The president of the PRM, Jose Ignacio Paliza, said the party seeks not to remove a person but to remove a way of doing government.
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Z101 Digital
N Digital
28 October 2019