Abinader from the Dominican Republic seems poised for election victory in the first round

The Dominican Republic’s Luis Abinader, an anti-corruption crusader who has helped catapult the island’s economy from pandemic lows to one of the fastest growing in Latin America, looks set to score a first-round victory in Sunday’s presidential election.

Abinader, the country’s current president and leader of the Modern Revolutionary Party, captured 60% of voter intentions in an early May Gallup-RCC Media poll, a figure that puts him well ahead of his nearest rival, three-time former president Leonel Fernandez. with 24.6%, and Abel Martinez with 11.1%. Several other candidates vote at or below 1%.

The stakes are high for the Dominican Republic as the Caribbean island nation grapples with an exploding humanitarian crisis on its doorstep in Haiti, which continues to fuel inequality and unsustainable levels of crime and corruption.

These issues could generate significant turnout among the 8.1 million people who get to vote for the next president, vice president and lawmakers on Sunday, leaving room for surprises.

If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will take place on June 30.

During the country’s first-ever presidential debate in April, Fernandez, Abinader’s top rival, portrayed his opponent as weak on the economy and crime, key points of contention for many voters. Martinez, a first-time candidate, staked his claim to successful leadership as mayor of the country’s second-largest city, Santiago.

But neither candidate has yet taken on the 56-year-old Abinader, who defies traditional ideological labels, pursues a pro-business agenda and donates his presidential salary to social programs.

The gray-haired former tourism and construction magnate has led a strong economic expansion, fueled in part by trade with the United States. That helped him achieve a 70% approval rating, according to a CID Gallup poll in September, making him one of the most popular leaders in Latin America.

Abinader appointed a tenacious attorney general with a mandate to combat government dealings in the early days of his administration, defended foreign investment and began construction of a border wall in 2022 to curb illegal immigration from Haiti, a measure that was popular among the voters.

“Abinader has simply kept his promises. The economy is strong, corruption is discouraged and the tourism industry has recovered since COVID,” said Eric Farnsworth, a Latin America expert at the Council of the Americas and Americas Society.

“The opposition is weak and divided. They promised unity in the second round of elections, but it looks like there won’t be a second round. So that point is ruled out if there is no major unexpected event between now and the elections.”

SUNNY DAYS

According to World Bank data, the island, home to palm-studded white-sand beaches and a booming manufacturing and agricultural sector, has grown at an average of 5% per year over the past two decades, making it the envy of much of Latin America. America.

Abinader has kept up the pace. The economy is expected to grow another 5.1% this year, the bank says.

He has campaigned on his widely praised handling of the COVID-19 crisis, speeding up vaccination and quickly reopening to tourism.

The move catapulted the key sector, and the broader economy, to a much faster recovery than competitors like Puerto Rico, Cuba, Jamaica and the Bahamas, paving the way for a record 10 million foreign arrivals by 2023. most popular destination in the Caribbean area, according to figures from UN Tourism.

Despite these achievements, opponents say Abinader, whose net worth of $76 million makes him one of Latin America’s richest presidents, must work to ensure the country’s wealth trickles down to the poor, said Geovanny Vicente-Romero, a Washington DC-based Dominican politician. strategist.

“Wealth redistribution and inequality need to be addressed to address the common perception that he is leading a ‘Popi’ government, most of whose members are white, from middle class and affluent families,” he said.

“Popi” is the term in the Dominican Republic for the rich, while “Wawawa” is used for the poor.

The crisis in neighboring Haiti – which has driven desperate Haitians across the border – has put further pressure on the social safety net, fueling the perception among many that crime has spiraled out of control.

Abinader, like his rivals, has called on the international community to take responsibility for the crisis, warning that the Dominican Republic cannot accommodate a huge influx of migrants from its neighbor.

Jacqueline Jimenez, co-editor of “Dominican Politics in the Twenty First Century,” told Reuters that the “rigorous and respectful” debate in recent months on issues ranging from Haiti to the economy is a certain victory for democracy.

“There is a high level of enthusiasm for the election,” she said. “Dominicans are starting to believe in their politicians again.” REUTERS