Dominican Liberation Party presidential candidacy contest

Internal competition within the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) has intensified as various figures vie for the party’s presidential candidacy for the 2028 elections. In early August, Deputy Ydenia Doñé reported that former Santiago mayor Abel Martínez was leading the internal race ahead of Gonzalo Castillo, noting that the party intends to follow electoral law by holding the official selection in 2027. This period also saw personal friction, as communicator Virgilio Feliz challenged Martínez regarding accusations of dishonorable conduct. By late August, tensions shifted toward the party’s organizational management. Presidential candidate and former Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier García criticized the PLD’s communication structure, describing its lack of coverage regarding an August 23 debate among pre-candidates as an “absolute and deliberate silence.” García also targeted the ruling Partido Revolucionario Moderno (PRM), alleging a collapse in the national electrical system and claiming energy losses in distribution companies rose from 28 percent to 43 percent under the current administration. Simultaneously, PLD Secretary of Defense and Security Sigfrido Pared Pérez criticized current public safety strategies, arguing the government relies too heavily on foreign models. As of late August, opposition narratives have begun to align between the PLD and Fuerza del Pueblo (FP). Both parties have focused their critiques on the administration of Luis Abinader, specifically targeting the rising cost of living, public debt, and the deterioration of essential services such as electricity and healthcare. Recent developments include PLD member Juan Ariel Jiménez questioning the growing public payroll, noting that state employment accounts for approximately 29.1% of formal jobs without proportional improvements in services. Additionally, García has raised alarms regarding neonatal deaths at the Maternidad Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia. Meanwhile, Omar Fernández of the FP expressed confidence in his party’s ability to win the 2028 elections, citing significant electoral growth.