President Luis Abinader’s proposal to ask Congress to cut 50% of the funds has not met with support from political parties outside of Eduardo Estrella’s Dominicans por el Cambio. The Electoral Law No. 275-97 and Political Parties Law 33-18 allots generous funding to politicians. In 2020, political parties received RD$3 billion in funds because it is an electoral year. The proposal then would be to reduce this to RD$1.5 billion, still a very generous share of the budget in these economic and health crisis times
In 2021, 80% of the politician funds would be distributed between the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), the only politician parties reaching the 5% of the vote levels.
Article 61 of Political Parties Law 33-18 on Political Parties establishes that 80% of these resources or RD$2,411,122,875.20 be distributed in equal parts among the political parties that obtained more than 5% of the valid votes cast in the last elections, at the presidential level.
12%, equivalent to RD$361,668,431.28 is distributed among all the parties that obtained at least 1-5% of the valid votes. Another 8%, equivalent to RD$241,112,287.52, will be distributed in equal parts among those that obtained 0.01%-1% of the valid votes cast in the last election at the presidential level.
The former ruling party, the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) said it would meet to discuss the proposal. People’s Force (FP) and the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) demanded respect for the laws.
Speaking for the ruling PRM, politician and Environment Minister Orlando Jorge Mera said that he understands President Abinader’s decision is a practical measure that would help the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19. “The country must assume a quota of sacrifice that the current times demand and the political parties are no exception. We must assume it as President Abinader proposes it,” said Jorge Mera.
Fuerza del Pueblo politician Manuel Crespo warned that the 2021 budget cannot contemplate eliminating or reducing resources destined to strengthen democracy through the political party system.
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) delegate for the PRSC, Tacitus Perdomo, said the political parties have already made commitments for 2021, counting on these funds.
The president of Al País, Guillermo Moreno, says that this organization is not opposed to reducing resources in this non-electoral year as long as equity is maintained in the distribution of resources. “Alianza País is not opposed to the reduction of the contribution made to the parties. However, what we do demand is that any contribution made be distributed with equity and according to the law,” said the former presidential candidate.
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19 October 2020