Polls open in Dominican presidential elections

Record ID: 103527

  • Title: Polls open in Dominican presidential elections
  • Date: 15th May 2016
  • Summary: SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (MAY 15, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SCHOOL THAT IS BEING USED AS A VOTING CENTRE SOLDIERS GUARDING DOORS TO VOTING CENTRE WITH VOTERS WAITING ON THE OTHER SIDE WOMAN PUTTING UP SIGN FOR VOTING CENTRE
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2016 16:35
  • Keywords: election voting presidential election Danilo Medina Luis Abinader
  • Location: SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
  • City: SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
  • Country: Dominican Republic
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014HX44EF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Polls opened in the Dominican Republic's presidential election where incumbent Danilo Medina is expected to win the first round on Sunday (May 15), with polls showing voters crediting him with economic growth and social projects, while less concerned about accusations of graft.
    It was unclear whether Medina would get the more than 51 percent of the votes needed to win a new term governing the Caribbean's largest economy, or if he will face a run-off election next month. Results are expected to be known on Monday.
    The 64-year-old left-of-center economist has had high popularity ratings during his four-year term in the country of 10.4 million. Electoral rules were changed to allow him to run for a second straight term.
    Medina's Dominican Liberation Party has been continuously in power since 2004. Ideologically, there is little to distinguish him from his main rival, Luis Abinader. The challenger has instead focused on allegations of corruption related to a power plant awarded to Brazilian engineering conglomerate Grupo Odebrecht.
    While the Dominican Republic is far wealthier than Haiti, its poor neighbour on the island of Hispaniola, many Dominicans still struggle to satisfy basic needs.
    Dominican Republic has the fastest-growing economy in Latin America, with 7 percent growth in 2014 and 2015. Yet poverty rates rose to 41 percent in the first year of Medina's term, according to the World Bank.
    High spending on education and health in recent years has won support for the government, and poverty has started to decline.
    Tourism has been the stalwart of the beach destination's economy with $167 million in tax revenue alone last year.
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