Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader declared himself the winner of the weekend’s presidential election in a race where crime and safety were among voters’ biggest concerns.
Official results are still pending, but the election website shows the former businessman leading by a wide margin as two of his top challengers conceded. As of Monday afternoon, Abinader had 57.46% of the votes counted.
Votes have been counted in over 99% of the polling stations, according to real-time data from the electoral board, which has yet to declare a winner.
However, on Sunday, both Abinader’s main rivals congratulated Abinader on his win. “Tonight I called President Luis Abinader by phone to recognize his electoral victory and wish him success in his administration,” candidate Leonel Fernandez wrote on X.
“I’d like to wish luck to Luis Abinader, our country has plenty of challenges, I ask God that we overcome them as a nation,” Dominican politician Abel Martínez said in a statement.
If Abinader wins, he will be in office until 2028. The 56-year-old former economist and businessman first assumed the presidency in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has presided over one of the fastest-growing economies in the region.
The popular leader has promised four more years of economic growth and experts expect Abinader to expand on his first term’s priorities, which include development, reform, and the fight against corruption.
The vote comes amid the spiraling political and social crisis in neighbouring Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic.
The crisis has seen Abinader’s administration seal the island’s shared border and airspace.
He has also been accused of stoking anti-Haitian sentiment, and in 2022, the United States embassy warned Black and “darker-skinned Americans” that they risk “increased interaction” with Dominican authorities amid an immigration crackdown.
Latest Stories
-
I was suspended in SHS after making a dance video with my uniform – Lisa Quama
22 mins -
GTA gears up for National Tourism Awards 2024
25 mins -
Prof. Gyampo criticises vacating of MP seats due to cross-carpeting
3 hours -
A critical examination of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s ruling on potential breaches of Article 97(1)(G) and (H)
4 hours -
Trump calls 6 January ‘day of love’ when asked about Capitol riot
4 hours -
UTAG calls for immediate prosecution of persons arrested for engaging in galamsey
5 hours -
Prof Ransford Gyampo: And Speaker Bagbin declared 4 seats vacant…
5 hours -
Secret Service has ‘deep flaws’ and must overhaul leadership, report says
5 hours -
Kenya’s deputy president sacked while in hospital
5 hours -
One Direction ‘devastated’ at Liam Payne’s death
5 hours -
Ghana’s debt to ease to 70% of GDP in 2024; another debt default unlikely – Fitch
6 hours -
Meta fires staff for buying toothpaste, not lunch
6 hours -
U-20 AFCON 2025Q: Afriyie’s brace earns Ghana draw against Benin
6 hours -
US ‘click to cancel’ rule to ban subscription traps
6 hours -
Speaker is completely out of order; he is wrong on this ruling – K.T Hammond
6 hours