The general elections in the Dominican Republic took place on Sunday, with President Luis Abinader seeking reelection as the frontrunner. The government’s tough stance on the Haitian border and the influx of refugees fleeing violence in Haiti has been a major issue in the campaign. Abinader needed to secure over 50% of the votes to win outright and avoid a runoff election. Trailing him were former President Leonel Fernández and Mayor Abel Martínez. The voting centers closed at 5 p.m. and the first results were expected to be announced a few hours later.
Many of the 8 million eligible voters in the Dominican Republic were still traumatized by the suspension of the 2020 municipal elections due to a technical glitch by the electoral authority. Despite some small irregularities reported by opposition parties, the voting process ran smoothly overall. Abinader expressed confidence in the strength of Dominican democracy and stated that the country would emerge stronger from the election process. A teacher named Abelardo Ubrí Antomarche was among the first to cast his vote early in the morning.
President Abinader’s anti-corruption agenda and efforts to grow the Dominican Republic’s economy have resonated with voters. However, his popularity has also been boosted by the government’s crackdown on Haitian migrants and the border issues with Haiti. Many voters shared concerns about the massive migration from Haiti and felt that it was getting out of control. The Dominican Republic’s strict policies towards Haitian migrants have intensified since the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, leading to the construction of a border wall and mass deportations.
The Dominican government has rejected calls to establish refugee camps for Haitian migrants fleeing violence in their country and has carried out mass deportations of hundreds of thousands of Haitians in the past year. While these policies are popular among voters, they have faced criticism from human rights organizations, labeling them as racist and a violation of international law. Amnesty International’s Americas director, Ana Piquer, called the collective expulsions a clear violation of the Dominican Republic’s international obligations and demanded an end to forced returns to Haiti.
President Abinader’s government has also requested the United Nations to send an international force to Haiti, citing the urgent need for action. The ongoing crisis in Haiti has further fueled the migration issue and the tensions along the shared border with the Dominican Republic. The election results will have significant implications for the future of the country’s policies towards Haitian migrants and the overall stability in the region. Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding the election process, the Dominican Republic is expected to move forward with its democratic principles and continue to address the pressing issues facing the nation.
