Potential Abinader reelection expected to cement his party's dominance

With opinion polls favoring incumbent President Luis Abinader, his PRM party could emerge as the Dominican Republic’s preeminent political force for years to come, creating a positive outlook for private investment.

Elections are slated for May 19 and aside from the presidency and vice presidency, 242 seats across the senate, the lower house and for the Central American parliament (Parlacen) are up for grabs. 

“PRM has many possible young candidates for 2028 and 2032. If Luis Abinader wins, it is very likely that PRM becomes the dominant party during the next decade – and not only because of PRM itself,” local political analyst Melvyn Pérez told BNamericas. 

“The PLD is a mess with the amount of leadership abandoning the party and the amount of judicial cases against its members, while the FP party is still very dependent on its presidential candidate Leonel Fernández,” he added. 

According to the latest poll by Diario Libre and Greenberg, Abinader leads with 58%, Fernández would get 25% and the PLD’s Abel Martínez 13%. A Gallup-RCC Media poll found 60% favor Abinader, 24% Fernández and 11% Martínez.

Abinader has focused on PPPs and trusts to fund projects. He is expected to intensify this approach if he wins another four-year mandate. 

Pérez projects a congressional PRM majority big enough to pass energy, security, healthcare and fiscal reforms that have been long delayed.

“It is highly likely that PRM obtains the majority to pass the big reforms. Today, while they also hold the majority, there is a lack of adequate political climate to pass them,” he said.