Rep. DominicanaAbinader secures resounding victory, re-elected President for 2024-2028 term
President Luis Abinader of the Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM) has secured re-election with 57.46% of the valid votes, with 99.50% of votes counted. This decisive victory in the first round surpasses his main rivals, Leonel Fernandez of Fuerza del Pueblo, who received 28.84%, and Abel Martinez of the Partido de la Liberación Dominicana, who garnered 10.39%.
Projections for the congressional results indicate that the PRM is poised to significantly increase its majority in both legislative chambers. The party is expected to expand its current hold of 110 seats in the 190-member Chamber of Deputies and 19 seats in the 32-member Senate. This anticipated majority will enable the PRM to pursue political reforms without needing support from other political factions.
President Abinader and the new members of the National Congress are scheduled to take office on August 16.
Abinader’s assured victory
President Luis Abinader of the Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM) surpassed the 50% threshold of valid votes to secure his re-election in the first round, achieving 57.46% of the votes. This marks a slight increase compared to the 52.52% he received in 2020. Despite this victory and the projected increase in legislative majorities, the PRM regards the result as a “loss” since the party had anticipated over 65% electoral support.
Challenges of the next government
Abinader’s re-election signifies a continuation of the policies enacted during his first term, particularly in crucial areas such as the economy, corruption, and security. However, citizens expect him to also tackle persistent challenges, including poverty reduction, unemployment, labor informality, and the migration crisis with Haiti. Effectively managing these issues will be vital for maintaining the security and internal stability desired by the populace, as well as sustaining popular support for Abinader’s administration.
In this regard, the President faces the challenge of balancing the calls for continuity with the imperative to address the pressing concerns of the Dominican population. This will necessitate the implementation of robust political and economic strategies to achieve significant progress in these areas.
Conformation of the new Congress
With the new Congress set to convene on August 16, the Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM) would wield an absolute majority in both chambers. This majority empowers the ruling party to advance reforms outlined in its government plan, including those requiring special majorities, such as constitutional reforms. This favorable scenario facilitates the implementation of priority policies and measures outlined by the Abinader administration.
Based on current projections, the PRM and its ruling alliance are poised to secure 29 out of the 32 Senate seats and over 149 out of the 190 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Notably, the Partido de la Liberación Dominicana (PLD) would see its representation in the Senate dwindle for the first time in four decades, leaving the Fuerza del Pueblo (FP) party as the primary opposition force.