The ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) is divided mainly between supporters of President Danilo Medina and those of former President Leonel Fernández. Electoral Regime Law allows that up to 15 can compete for the presidential nomination of any political party. But in the case of the PLD, party statutes indicate that a politician needs to receive 33% of the vote of the members of the Central Committee to participate in the primary on 6 October 2019. Mathematically speaking, this is 198 of possible 600 votes.
With President Danilo Medina announcing he would not seek the Presidency in 2020, the Central Committee needs to meet soon to decide who the pre-candidates will be. So far, nine party members have expressed their aspirations. Political analysts say that Medina controls 375 of the Central Committee votes and Leonel Fernández 210.
However, there seems to be a loophole. Electoral experts say that if the Central Committee decides that the election be by electoral boards instead of by direct vote, Fernandez would be at a disadvantage. The sector that backs Medina could vote in favor of others.
In addition to Fernández, the aspirants to be on the PLD presidential ticket are: Vice President Margarita Cedeño, former Environt Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito, former Education Minister Andrés Navarro, senator Reinaldo Pared Pérez, former Interior & Police Minister Carlos Amarante Baret, former CDEEE executive vice president Radhamés Segura, former Economy Minister Temístocles Montás, Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo, and former Labor Minister Maritza Hernández.
Political analyst Altagracia Salazar says that Medina cannot allow for two or more of those who he backs to compete against each other in the primaries. This would divide the vote giving an advantage to his contender, former President Leonel Fernández.
In addition, the party needs to choose others that will compete for municipal and legislative posts. Some 6,952 persons registered as PLD pre-candidates for the 2020 general election.
The party’s electoral commission set a 17 August 2019 date for the selection to be completed. The actual deadline for registration with the Central Electoral Board (JCE) is 22 August. Therefore, the Central Committee needs to meet no later than the second week of August.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nacional
El Dia
25 July 2019