While the official presidential campaign does not open until July 2023, intense campaigning efforts are in full swing nationwide. The four parties that were awarded big time cash for political campaigning by the Central Electoral Board following the 2020 general election (PRM, PLD, FP and PRD) are positioning themselves to have a head start when the campaign opens.
Now, the media is focusing on whether the Dominican Liberation Party, under the leadership of former President Danilo Medina and the People’s Force, under the leadership of former President Leonel Fernandez will merge again to compete against incumbent President Luis Abinader of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) who is expected to announce soon he will be seeking reelection.
A 1-5 April 2023 Gallup poll indicated that Abinader is likely to win the election, even if the PLD, FP and PRD join forces. The poll showed Abinader with 48.3% of the vote, Leonel Fernandez with 25.9% and Abel Martine with 18.2%. It also showed Abinader winning if there be a second round vote.
Fernandez formed the People’s Force political party (FP) after he denounced then President Danilo Medina had rigged the results of the PLD primaries in October 2019. Medina would back his Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo for the PLD presidential candidate, instead of Fernandez who was winning the computerized vote until a last minute change in the data count.
News reports are that former Minister of Foreign Relations Miguel Vargas Maldonado, who is the president of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), is serving as the liaison between the two former Presidents.
Meanwhile, Somos Pueblo muckraking online platform reminds its followers about the weaknesses about former Presidents Danilo Medina and Leonel Fernandez.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
Al Momento
N Digital
N Digital
N Digital
Somos Pueblo
24 April 2023