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I am very surprised the elections would not be cancelled as in other countries.

With social distancing not being respected by many the few of us whether you can vote or not find this a complete masquerade.

Ducketts

Biggest changes if government changes?

To address the cancellation - there is no constitutionally allowed way for this to happen!聽

And there would be full on riots if they tried!

Second - we currently have a PLD lead government.聽 They have been in power now since 2004.聽 All their associates and cronies are in positions of power.聽 Entire govt entities are full of loyalists.聽 聽Recently in the news are stories of families being on govt payrolls and not actually doing anything.聽 Housekeepers being paid 60,000 Rd a month, sisters, bothers, cousins, in law's etc on payroll at grossly inflated wages.

It's nothing new.

If another party wins all those people are removed.聽 I like to think properly prepared and qualified people will then take over.聽 We all know that is dreaming!

New people take over, new processes often are implemented and it all means delays.

It seems common sense this will never prevail.聽 In spite of what you say they should find a way to cancel the elections.聽 Based on your previous statement about healthcare for the "poor" this virus will spread like wildfire.聽 But then I'm just a visitor trying to get out of here.

Ducketts

I聽 understand your comments.聽 What I would do or you seem to be common sense. However here that will not likely hold water!聽 Sad.聽 And changes to the constitution will not pass. There is NO political will to delay this in any way.

Very sad.聽

They really are their own worst enemies.聽 How can a developing country like DR ever hope to really jump out of this strangle hold if they don't control the virus and rid themselves (not a popular thinking) of the extreme hold the US has on its country and many other smaller countries.聽 It would take a brave politician to change direction.聽 Won't happen soon!


Ducketts

No idea what you are talking about -聽 the extreme聽 hold the US has聽 -聽 that isn't even an issue in terms of our elections here!

The reopening plan is very much tailored to the election timetable.

A schedule to be there or thereabouts by election day, but probably knowing it all could go pear shaped too if the population don't respect social distancing.

And don't be surprised if in another 8/9 days, the daily numbers are still on the up and the President is left with no option to seek and other extension to the period of emergency. He needs it anyhow to phase the openings and the curfew is a 'god send' to keep numbers down.

Only the PRM are saying no more extensions, and the Peoples Force (part of former PLD majority in lower house) are saying it would be considered and negotiated. Leonel is a smart politician and knows that should he get into the run off for President he would need the PLD supporters behind him.

Interesting politics in a national health emergency.

Frankly the whole thing is a mess-really nothing else to add-just a mess.

Ducketts

Yes.

A total mess and the elections and the politics continue to distract from the real need for the population and to deal with covid19 effectively.

To me the elections on July 5th look unrealistic in current conditions and someone must have a crystal ball believing they can still happen. Maybe in under 7 weeks covid19 is gone here?

The election will happen guys.聽 First there is no legal provision for not having it. And second there would be riots everywhere!聽 So which is better: some kind of controlled聽 election or simply riots and then we need an election anyway?

I for one will stay well clear of everything. I will do the shopping for essentials,聽 maybe聽 go for walks in my neighborhood and continue as I am!聽

For now,聽 no聽 caravans or election events which is a very good thing!聽 聽Imagine an election where there are NO Caravans and stupid noisy events right up to voting day??? That would be awesome......聽

Time will tell.

The country is now 6 weeks away from elections and is opening up yet covid19 cases are not decreasing.....over 400 today with less than 2000 tests and higher positivity. Lots of new cases in now very busy Greater Santo Domingo. End the curfew and just think what will happen!

Because of opening up it is most unlikely that cases will decrease. The virus dies not work like that, it spreads to more people if the transmission rate is not controlled below or at one, and the only way proven to reduce the transmission rate is isolation. DR didn't get below 1 at all and not for the recommended 7 days.

So we could probably continue to see approximately 300 to 400 cases daily depending on testing numbers or more probably higher, between now and polling day. And if there are any election rallies the chance of greater spread is going to be much higher.

A potential mess, perhaps a serious health crisis, could be looming and whatever party wins the situation they inherit in August could be very bleak indeed.

Politics has been covid19's friend and helps it advance.

I know Planner says there is nothing in the DR constitution to stop the elections, however regardless of that, like other countries stop the elections bring to troops out and show whose boss.聽 Yes easier said than done and I guess as the current Gov is weak the new Gov will also be weak, so no gain for anyone.

You need strong democratic Gov to govern and good opposition to oppose and it looks whatever happens in DR that isn't聽 going happen soon, shame for its people and the country.

As far as opening up, well the economic pressures are huge.聽 Italy, Germany and France have take calculated gambles but it appears to be working out with bars, cafes & schools back to near normality.

When go back to the state of Italy and its hospitals in such a mess it really is quite a turnaround.

Ducketts

The Constitution can be changed if there are the votes, two thirds is the number I believe.

It can only happen if politicians unite and see the light for all Dominicans and not their rear end.

For that reason it won't happen.

It cannot be done in the time we have available. Its not allowed.聽 Sorry Ducketts.聽 I may agree with you but I also see the facts.

The Supreme court just threw out a request to even hear arguments as it is not allowed under the constitution.

So lets address the rallies and spread:

One thing we learned from Puerto Plata is that the聽 expected spread did not happen. Here is what I think:聽 its because it all happened outdoors!聽 There is much聽 less spread outdoors!聽

The spread in Santo Domingo will聽 explode because of people gathering indoors - on the metro, in stores etc.

Maybe if rallies and caravans are only outside - maybe - it wont be as bad?

Just thinking out loud here!

Look at the social distancing all around the potential new President in the video clip in this article.

I guess we have to start thinking of living with this, taking all the necessary measures to prevent for getting it and start planning to go to vote.
If we go to supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, jobs, etc., why not going to vote?

Yessir.... you will NOT beat this

Cope w/ it, adjust..... survive it

Beat it ??
Never

Hopefully, we're going to beat it at the end. The body will start to adapt as we did with the Yellow Fever. The sad thing it's we're going to loose so many dear people on the way.

For most of us this is a non issue as we dont vote. However the repercussions would effect us. Most of us have residency but are not citizens!

In the US they actually avoided huge issues in voting. Studies show that you need to be in the area with others in close proximity for a period of time.聽 The longer the time the greater the threat of spread.聽 聽

I don't have high hopes that there won't be crowds gathering indoors for this but it's possible.

Of course Planner you're right.

If politicians don't respect Gov orders and don't respect social distancing, it's a danger to us all.

Ducketts

And the caravans!

A political rally in SFM led to a whole lot of virus and death in Duarte and adjacent provinces.

Be warned.

Currently caravans and rallies are not.allowed!聽 Let's see who respects that!

Personalities stand in solidarity with Abinader after testing positive for COVID-19



That is one of the risks that politicians take when electioneering during a pandemic.

We've all seen some of those rallies with people very close together.

At least Luis Abinader is younger and should see this through but maybe it keeps him out of the campaigning for a few weeks. LF would be a high risk case at his age.

I am amazed more are not testing positive.聽 Interesting the " conspiracy"聽 idiots are spouting off on social media!

Yes planner and it's so sad that the social media idiots are trying to twist this as is Abinader is lying and saying this, for the public to take pity on him as a strategy campaign.

Nobody will respect anything as illustrated to date.聽 Total utter chaos with no social distancing whatsoever.

Ducketts

It is normally a time for expats to stay at home during and after election day to avoid potential flash points.

I more anxious this year with the possibility of change of government.

Right now is not a good time to be living in DR.

I assume you meant "leaving" DR

Agreed however those who wish to leave are in the hands of the airlines who in turn are in the hands of Gov Orders.

At present as you have said airports & tourism re open July 1.聽 The question is of course for how long and will any new Gov ( if they have a majority) change the current orders.聽 We wait & see.

Ducketts

I am leaving - Friday

Yes, I don't want to be here for the aftermath -
I have other things to do....

NO Ducketts he was correct, it is not a good time for expats LIVING here.聽 Meaning during the election time.聽 IT is fine to be leaving!

As we lead up to the election we will have way way too many people in the streets, the caravans etc draw huge crowds!

Election day Stay Home
Day after the election STAY HOME!

Everything depends on the results!聽

So some scenarios

-聽 if its close and no clear winner we go to a second vote where the top two fight it out.
- if the PLD win,聽 I expect riots in the streets
- if either of the other two wins a clear majority we will see celebrations in the streets. The people are tired of all the years of the PLD.

That is just my opinion but this is my fifth election cycle here.

Who are flying with?


Ducketts

JetBlue..... the flight has been a regular one for months now....

empty in - pax out

So that's via the US or Canada?

SDQ to JFK..........
transit passenger

Husband of PRM deputy candidate accused of money laundering is a member of the Police



Santo Domingo, RD.-聽 Miguel Arturo L贸pez Florencio alias Miky L贸pez has been a member of the National Police for eight years.

Reports from a police source reached the CDN indicate that L贸pez Florencio, accused of laundering nearly 7 billion pesos from drug trafficking with his family, charges 11,840 pesos with 38 cents in uniform, a salary received by assimilates and features of the institution.

Related content:聽 PRM: "Every citizen is responsible for their personal acts vis-脿-vis the State"
Likewise, the son of Miky L贸pez, current councilor of the PRM in the municipality of La Vega, was also a member of the Police but resigned from the position to be a candidate in the last municipal elections in March.

On Monday morning, the National District Prosecutor's Office raided the residence of L贸pez Florencio and his wife, the candidate for deputy for the PRM, Rosa Amalia Pilarte , who were occupied by luxury vehicles, helicopters and other millionaire goods.



Corruption and politicos of whatever party is DR's problem. The presidentail candidate was flying around in this policeman's helicopter to rallies. Castillo has a private jet company and has been repatriating Dominicans with his aircraft.

Politics pays it appears. They are all in the same mold and with no real civil service any change in governement will probably be a rough ride especially now with the covid19 effect.

Interesting article in Bloomberg:聽

Ruling Party鈥檚 Two Decades of Power at Risk in Dominican Vote

The ruling party鈥檚 two-decade grip on the Dominican Republic is at risk on Sunday in elections held amid the worst Covid-19 outbreak in the Caribbean.

Dominicans are voting for a president and congress after a campaign that saw repeated lockdown violations, the front-runner infected with the virus, and a husband and wife on rival presidential tickets.

Incumbents鈥� parties have been ousted across the region over the last year, from Argentina to Uruguay to Suriname. Most polls show opposition candidate and economist Luis Abinader, 52, leading the race after graft scandals chipped away support for the ruling party.

The winner will take control of the Caribbean鈥檚 largest economy as it faces its deepest slump in three decades due to the collapse of tourism. That鈥檚 a sharp reversal for an economy that was the top performer in the Americas last year.

A Gallup poll conducted from June 12-16 gave Abinader and his Modern Revolutionary Party 54% support versus former public works minister Gonzalo Castillo, with the ruling Dominican Liberation Party, or PLD, on 36%. If Abinader wins more than half the ballots, he can avoid a July 26 run-off.

Investors Agnostic
Leonel Fernandez, a former three-time president who broke with the PLD, was in third place with 9% of the vote. Fernandez鈥檚 wife, Margarita Cedeno, is the country鈥檚 current vice president and also Castillo鈥檚 running-mate.

There are no major ideological differences between the main candidates, and none is likely to change the pro-business model in the country of 11 million people, Eurasia Group analyst Risa Grais-Targow said.

鈥淚nvestors are pretty agnostic, since the ideological spectrum is so narrow in the the Dominican Republic,鈥� Grais-Targow said, in reply to written questions.

Abinader is the executive president of Grupo ABICOR, a tourism developer, and vice president of the Cementos Santo Domingo cement company.

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time and initial results are expected late Sunday.

The election to pick the president, 32 senators and 190 deputies was originally scheduled for May 17 but was suspended due to the pandemic. In early June, Abinader, his wife and two of his three daughters tested positive for the coronavirus, though he now says he鈥檚 fully recovered.

He鈥檚 pledged to keep the exchange rate stable and seek fresh financing on international markets and to maintain the welfare programs the government rolled out in response to the pandemic.

The PLD has been in power for 20 of the last 24 years, and its control of congress, the judiciary and the presidency has created an atmosphere where corruption can flourish, said Ricardo Ripoll, head of Somos Pueblo, a Dominican pro-transparency group.

President Danilo Medina signaled that the PLD won鈥檛 go down without a fight. Speaking to party officials ahead of the vote, Medina told them not to send 鈥渓ittle gentlemen鈥� to oversee polling Sunday but only people 鈥渨ith guts鈥� who are 鈥渂rave enough to defend the vote.鈥�

As of Thursday, the country had more than 33,000 confirmed cases of the virus, more than anywhere else in the Caribbean.

鈥� With assistance by Sam Hall

Another take on the upcoming elections-mind boggling!

Excellent article.聽

Now we need one about all the corruption from all 3 major candidates!