Political parties have named seven men and two women as presidential candidates to compete for the Presidency in the 19 May 2024 elections. This is up from the six contenders in the 2020 election and eight in the 2016 election, reports El Dia.
Four of the candidates are well-known politicians. These are President Luis Abinader, who seeks to be reelected; former President Leonel Fernandez; Santiago Mayor Abel Martinez; and former minister of Public Works and Foreign Relations Miguel Vargas Maldonado.
The emerging candidates are:
63-year old Dr. Fulgencio Severino, for the Patria Para Todos. He is currently the head of Cardiology at the Salvador B. Gautier Hospital, a public teaching hospital.
38-year old journalist Virginia Antares, for the Opción Democrática.
Roque Espaillat Tavarez (El Cobrador) for the Partido Socialista Cristiano (PSC).
María Teresa Cabrera was chosen the presidential candidate of the Frente Amplio. She is a former president of the Dominican Association of Public School Teachers (ADP).
48-year old Carlos Peña is a former deputy. He will run for the Partido Generación de Servidores (GenS) .
El Dia report on the candidates observes that unlike in other Latin American countries, emerging candidates in the Dominican Republic do not usually have good electoral results.
The parties now have until 10 November 2023 to announce whether there will be alliance pacts.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
Acento
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
El Caribe
Maria Teresa Cabrera
30 October 2023