Several cities in the DR were enveloped in purple yesterday, as both rich and poor took to the streets to celebrate the fact that President Hipolito Mejia will be leaving the Presidential Palace on 16 August. The party began at midnight on 16 May, after Mejia accepted defeat, and continued until late in the evening on 17 May, a holiday the government had declared on occasion of the election.
The biggest parties in Santo Domingo took place on the Malecon and Abraham Lincoln avenues.
The PLD won big in Santo Domingo, the largest voter contingent in the Dominican Republic. More than 61% of the voters in the National District (Santo Domingo city) and the municipalities of Santo Domingo West, Santo Domingo North and Santo Domingo East voted for Leonel Fernandez. This explains the enthusiastic celebrations that took place all day on Monday, 17 May citywide.
Actually, the PLD won in all but three border provinces ? Independencia, Pedernales and Monte Cristi.
In Santiago, the home province of President Mejia, voters awarded 55% to the PLD, 29% to the PRD and 16% to the PRSC.