PLD criticizes Dominican public payroll growth and expands membership

The Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) is intensifying its political activities and criticizing the current administration. Carlos Manzano, the PLD's Secretary of Public Administration, has denounced a massive increase in the public payroll under the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM). Manzano reported that the budget for government remunerations and contributions is projected to reach approximately RD$377 billion for 2026, compared to RD$210 billion in 2020, representing a nominal increase of about 80%.

Manzano accused the PRM of turning the state into a 'job pool' for its members and called for an independent audit of public employment to ensure transparency. Additionally, the PLD reported enrolling nearly 25,000 new members in a single day and has inaugurated a new provincial and municipal headquarters in Puerto Plata to strengthen its local presence.

In a separate political development, Carlos Peña, a presidential aspirant for the Generation of Servants (GenS) party, called on citizens to join his movement to pursue a 'National Restoration.' Peña criticized the current government for corruption and emphasized that his party seeks to operate independently of state funding.