In a significant shift for the Dominican Republic’s political landscape, small political movements, some with fewer than 200 votes and others that did not participate in the last elections, are set to receive nearly RD$4 million each in public funding for 2026, as reported in Diario Libre. This windfall is the result of a landmark 2025 ruling by the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE), which overhauled the criteria for distributing state resources to political entities.
The reform will mark the first time the Camino Nuevo (CN) party will access public funds. Despite being recognized in March 2024 and missing the elections due to its recent legalization, the party maintains an active digital presence and national operations.
In contrast, several of the local movements receiving millions appear to have little to no public profile. Investigations into movements like the CCD show inactive social media accounts dating back to 2020, while others lack a clear digital identity, raising questions about the visibility and reach of groups now funded by the taxpayer.
Under the new guidelines, the Central Electoral Board (JCE) will distribute a total of RD$1.62 billion this year, an increase of RD$120 million over 2025.
The most striking impact of the reform is the jump in funding for five local movements. In 2025, these groups received a mere RD$32,976; in 2026, that figure will soar to RD$3,927,272. Among the beneficiaries are the Movimiento Cívico Cabrereño, which garnered only 156 votes in the 2024 municipal elections, and the Movimiento Humanista Independiente, which received 380 votes. Even organizations with no recorded activity in the 2024 cycle, such as the Movimiento Confraternidad Dominicana (CCD) and the Movimiento Independiente del Municipio de Consuelo (Minco), will receive the same RD$3.9 million allocation.
The change stems from TSE Sentence 10/2025. Previously, funding was largely determined by the highest percentage a party achieved in a specific election level. The new “all-in” criteria bases distribution on the total sum of votes across all ballots for any entity with legal standing.
Under Resolution 01-2026, the JCE has categorized the funding as follows:
Major parties (Over 5% of votes): The PRM, Fuerza del Pueblo, and PLD will each receive RD$432 million (80% of the total fund).
Medium parties (1% to 5% of votes): Five parties will receive RD$38.8 million each.
Minority parties & movements (Under 1% of votes): 26 organizations will receive a uniform RD$3,927,272.
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Diario Libre
27 January 2026