Dominican Republic party politics

In late July 2026, the PLD was dealing with internal tensions over its candidate‑selection process. Party leader Karen Ricardo emphasized rebuilding public confidence ahead of the 2028 elections, while members criticized a virtual meeting chaired by secretary‑general Johnny Pujols that appeared to favor presidential hopeful Gonzalo Castillo.

A week later, PLD vice‑president Yván Lorenzo turned the focus outward, accusing the ruling PRM of inflating the civil‑service payroll and its membership rolls. PRM president José Ignacio Paliza rejected the allegations, citing an electoral‑board verification.

On 29 July, Ricardo reiterated the need to strengthen the party’s internal structure and preserve public—policy programs amid deteriorating services in Santo Domingo Este, while criticism of the Castillo‑focused meeting persisted.

On 5 August, the Junta Central Electoral received updated membership registers from the PLD, PRM and the opposition PRD, highlighting uneven growth and ongoing verification disputes.

By 7 August, the PLD launched a nationwide organizational and electoral strengthening campaign as part of its third "Organizational and Electoral Line" phase. During the second "Esfuerzo Concentrado" (Concentrated Effort) day, the party held workshops in Neiba and Duvergé focused on dialogue, negotiation, and conflict resolution to promote internal cohesion. Secretary General Johnny Pujols reported that tens of thousands of citizens have expressed interest in joining the organization during this reorganization process.

Simultaneously, the ruling PRM announced plans for a Delegates Assembly to renew its leadership. Under newly approved statutory reforms, President Luis Abinader is expected to be elected party president via a single slate, succeeding José Ignacio Paliza. The reforms include reducing the term of office for authorities from four to two years and creating an executive vice presidency to manage party operations, allowing the president to focus on government duties.