The Dominican Republic’s outgoing President Luis Abinader has been re-elected in the first round of presidential elections, securing another four-year term to lead the country. Throughout his campaign, Abinader highlighted the economic achievements during his presidency and his firm stance on migration from Haiti.
While the final results of the election are still pending, initial counts from the National Electoral Commission indicate that Abinader has garnered over 59 percent of the votes, with former president Leonel Fernandez trailing behind with almost 27 percent. Abel Martinez is in third place with more than 10 percent of the votes, while the other six candidates have significantly lower support.
In his victory speech, Abinader expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by the people and reassured the nation that he would continue to be their president. His main rival, Fernandez, has already conceded defeat and extended his congratulations and well wishes to Abinader.
Abinader’s party, the Dominican Revolutionary Party, is expected to secure a majority in both the parliament and the senate, consolidating their power in government. However, opposition parties have raised concerns about alleged vote-buying by ruling party members echoing similar accusations from past elections.
The Dominican Republic shares a border with Haiti, a country struggling with poverty and gang violence. This adds complexity to migration between these two countries which continues to be a significant issue for both nations. Despite these challenges ahead of him Abinader’s re-election marks a significant moment in Dominican Republic’s political landscape.
