Dominican Republic Debt Surge Criticized by Former President Danilo Medina

Former president and PLD leader Danilo Medina said the ruling PRM government has driven the Dominican Republic’s public debt to unprecedented levels. He reported that the debt rose from roughly US$39 billion at the end of his administration to about US$68 billion today, a jump of more than 76 percent.

Medina added that interest‑payment obligations have doubled, rising from RD$161 billion to RD$322 billion, and that the payroll expense has expanded from RD$104 billion to over RD$377 billion. He accused the current government of inefficient loan handling, noting that around RD$200 billion of borrowed funds remained idle in banks before being used.

During a PLD oath‑taking ceremony in La Vega, Medina reiterated his critique of the government’s fiscal management, linking the debt increase to a lack of tangible benefits for the population. An opinion piece by a former central‑bank official echoed the same data, noting that the non‑financial public‑sector debt climbed to US$67.996 billion in May 2026 while public investment remained low.