The biggest surprise of the 16 October 2022 early consultation organized by the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) to sound out the popularity of several of the aspirants to the 2024 presidential nomination was former Vice President Margarita Cedeño. She turned in low numbers for a third place, behind leader Abel Martínez and follow up Francisco Domínguez Brito. A political analysis in El Dia says that the former First Lady did not meet expectations that she would garner the support of PLD members loyal to former President Danilo Medina. Instead, the support went to the former president of the Chamber of Deputies, today mayor of Santiago, the second largest city.
The former ruling political party has yet to announce the full results of the 16 October 2022 consultation. The results only serve to determine who so far is the party’s strongest pre-candidate. The official political party primaries and other activities to choose the presidential candidates are scheduled for the month of October 2023. This means from now to then, the PLD could choose another candidate.
Alejandrina German, president of the organizing committee, estimates around half a million people voted. But a story in Hoy has a political analyst saying that extrapolating the results for the 75% vote count, the final tally of voters was more likely under 360,000 voters.
The mayor of Santiago, Abel Martinez was declared winner of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) presidential candidate consultation with 75.48% of the votes counted by Bulletin #6. As of Bulletin #6, Martinez had received 213,185 votes, for 60.87%. Former Minister of Environment Francisco Domínguez Brito had received 73,137 votes, for 20.82%, former Vice President Margarita Cedeño received 57,024 votes (16.23%). Former Labor Minister Maritza Hernández received 3,737 votes (1.06%), Karen Ricardo 2,672 (0.76%); and Luis de León, 1,520 (0.44%).
In reporting on the political consultation, Diario Libre highlights the challenges ahead for the PLD pre-candidate. Journalist Niza Campos reports that Martínez is a close friend of former President Leonel Fernandez, a PLD dissident, who left the party after arguing the 2019 primary for the 2020 presidential election had been rigged.
Political analyst Altagracia Salazar also says that former President Danilo Medina chose Abel Martínez because he is a close friend of former President Fernandez, and “Margarita does not have space in the FP.” She says Martínez could agglomerate different sectors for the party. She points out that in the 6 October 2019 primary some 1.8 million persons participated, down from around 400,000 in the 2022 consultation.
Read more:
El Dia
Hoy
Diario Libre
Acento
Altagracia Salazar Sin Maquillaje
DR1 News
18 October 2022