The way the electoral laws are written, you need big bucks to campaign for deputy or senator. Deputy Jose Horacio Rodríguez and senator Faride Raful who won their seats without millionaire spending, are the exceptions, not the rule. These two are not wealthy, as many of the politicians who sit for the majority political parties of the Dominican Republic.
N Digital reports that 25 legislators in the Chamber of Deputies reported wealth of more than RD$40 million. The wealth of the senators is greater. There is even a senator who reported a fortune of more than RD$9 billion.
The ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) has the most millionaires, with 17, followed by four of the Dominican Liberation Party, one of the People’s Force (the new party of former President Leonel Fernandez), another of the Social Christian Reformist Party (Partido Reformista) and another of the Ample Front (Frente Amplio), a minority party that backed Luis Abinader for President.
Among the wealthy legislators of the PRM, newly arrested Santiago deputy, Miguel Gutiérrez stands out. He was recently arrested in Miami and is accused of drug trafficking.
Maria Trinidad Sanchez Deputy Jorge Hugo Cavoli Balbuena reported a wealth of around RD$200 million. The deputy for Duarte, Nicolas Hidalgo Almanzar, says his wealth is RD$120 million. Espaillat deputy Jose Miguel Ferreiras Torres reported RD$123 million.
But the big fortunes are in the Senate. Espaillat senator for the PRM, Carlos G´ómez reported a fortune of RD$9 billion. The senator for Santo Domingo, Antonio Taveras Guzman reported RD$766 million. La Altagracia senator Virgilio Cedano Cedano reported RD$745 million.
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N Digital
N Digital
31 May 2021