The Dominican Republic is currently holding its presidential election, with the incumbent President Luis Abinader running for a second term. The country’s economy is booming, and polls show that Abinader is leading his main opponents, former President Leonel Fernández and Abel Martínez. To avoid a run-off on June 30th, a candidate must secure at least 50% of the vote.
President Abinader, who is 56 and represents the Modern Revolutionary Party, has campaigned on continuing the nation’s economic success and resisting pressure to take in refugees from Haiti. The Dominican Republic’s economy is expected to grow by 4.4% this year, driven by tourism and strong foreign investment. Despite improvements in unemployment and poverty rates, the opposition argues that many citizens have not benefited from this economic boom.
In addition to the presidential race, voters are also choosing senators and representatives. Polling stations will close at 5 p.m. local time, and preliminary results are set to be announced by 8 p.m. It is expected that the election outcome will have a significant impact on the country’s future.
Abinader has been praised for his pro-business policies that have contributed to the country’s economic growth, but his opponents argue that he has not done enough to address social issues such as corruption and inequality.
Despite these criticisms, Abinader remains confident in his ability to win re-election and continue leading the country towards a brighter future.
As voting continues throughout the day, tensions remain high between supporters of different candidates. However, it is hoped that once all votes have been counted, peace will be restored and the country can move forward with its development plans.
Overall, it seems clear that this election will be closely watched around the world as an important indicator of Latin America’s political climate moving forward into 2022.
