Nine candidates will compete in the May 19 elections for the presidency of the Republic for the period 2024-2028, among them: the current head of state, Luis Abinader, and the three-time president Leonel Fernández.
Four of these candidates participate for majority organizations and five for emerging parties.
Abinader arrives at the electoral contest widely favored by polling firms to win the elections.
These candidates will be subject to the scrutiny of eight million 145 thousand 548 voters, of whom it is estimated that a percentage greater than 60% would vote.
These are the presidential candidates:
LUIS ABINADER
Abinader, an economist by profession, came to power with the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) in August 2020, in his second attempt to become head of state.
It is supported by 22 parties and two movements grouped in the Avanza-RD coalition.
Born 56 years ago in Santo Domingo into a wealthy family of Lebanese descent, Abinader is seeking a second term “to continue deepening” the change he promised four years ago, when he took office with the promise of ending corruption and impunity. two burdens in the country. His running mate is Raquel Peña.
LEONEL FERNÁNDEZ
Fernández, a lawyer and intellectual with a solid background and whom polls place in second place in voting intention, is running in the elections for the People’s Force (FP), and six allied organizations.
He unsuccessfully participated in the 2020 elections after his abrupt departure from the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), of which he was president until 2019.
The former president, 70 years old and who governed in the periods 1996-2000, 2004-2008 and 2008-2012, is in search of a fourth electoral victory to launch the “transformations” that, in his opinion, the country requires. His running mate is Ingrid Mendoza.
ABEL MARTINEZ
Former president of the Chamber of Deputies and until last month mayor of Santiago. He is 52 years old and a candidate for the head of state for the PLD, the second political force in the country, although the polls suggest that his candidate will come third.
Martínez is running for office with a government plan that has the people “as the beginning and the end,” but also with an anti-migrant speech, guaranteeing that he will end “the permanent invasion of illegal migration into our territories, neighborhoods, streets and fields.” ”, in clear allusion to the Haitians. Zoraima Cuello is his vice-presidential candidate.
MIGUEL VARGAS
The former chancellor and former Minister of Public Works Miguel Vargas Maldonado, 73, is running for the country’s Presidency for the second time with the once majority PRD, reduced to a minimum after the internal crisis of 2012, which two years later gave way to the formation of the current ruling PRM.
Vargas, a businessman in the construction sector, is vice president of the Socialist International (SI) and president of that entity for Latin America and the Caribbean. Joel Rafael Díaz is your vice-presidential candidate.
MARÍA TERESA CABRERA
Cabrera, a 62-year-old teacher, is one of the two women who aspire to the Presidency of the Dominican Republic, a country where, she says, there is still “a lot to do to talk about a society where equality between men and women prevails.” .
A long-time activist and social leader, Cabrera, from the Frente Amplio party, has a degree in Philosophy and Letters. Her running mate is Jesús Díaz.
VIRGINIA ANTARES RODRÍGUEZ
Democratic Option candidate, Rodríguez, 39, is a journalist and activist.
With a progressive proposal, like Cabrera, he defends a woman’s right to abortion, completely prohibited in the country, while ensuring that traditional parties “are undermining Dominican democracy.” Domingo Abreu is the candidate for vice presidency.
ROQUE ESPAILLAT
Nicknamed “The Collector,” Espaillat, a medical professional, is the candidate of the Democratic Hope Party, the incipient political formation of Ramfis Domínguez Trujillo, grandson of former dictator Rafael Trujillo, whose candidacy was rejected by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) for not having renounced American nationality.
Espaillat declares himself intolerant of the corrupt, as he calls traditional politicians, whom he claims will collect what they have stolen from the State for decades, although he has publicly admitted that, as a natural person, he does not pay taxes because it will not bear the fruit of his “ sweat” to “the thieves.” He accompanies him on the ballot, José Fadul
CARLOS PENA
Evangelical pastor, engineer and former deputy, Peña, 47, is the candidate of the Generation of Servers Party.
With his conservative speech, Peña, former leader of the PLD, defines himself as a defender of the traditional family and describes abortion as an “aggravated crime” “because it is killing a person who cannot defend himself.” Nikauly de La Mota completes the pairing.
FULGENCIO SEVERINO
Severino, 64, of the Patria Para Todos Movement, is a cardiologist and left-wing activist.
He proposes a model of social economic development “with a solidarity economy” and is a strong critic of the current social security and pension system, now managed by private companies. Francisca Peguero accompanies him on the ballot.
