Fernandez wins Dominican Election 2008

It’s official, Leonel Fernandez has won the Presidential election for his second consecutive time, and third time in total.

Throughout last night, the electoral administration body, the JCE (Junta Central Electoral) issued bulletins which they published on their website containing the results so far as each region’s votes were counted.

By 10pm, it was looking like Fernandez had secured more than fifty per cent of the votes, suggesting that he would win in the election in the first round. By this morning it was confirmed, and as at just after midday, the official results published by the JCE are:

Leonel Fernández - PLD & Allies 2,152,741 (53.72%)
Miguel Vargas - PRD & Allies 1,624,771 (40.55%)
Amable Aristy Castro - PRSC 185,624 (4.63%)
Eduardo Estrella - PRSD & Allies 18,964 (0.47%)
Guillermo Moreno - MIUCA 17,634 (0.44%)
Trajano Santana - PRI 1,495 (0.04%)
Pedro Candelier - PAP 5,976 (0.15%)

Total valid votes so far were 4,007,205, a far cry from the more than 5.7 million eligible voters. The last elections in 2000 and 2004 showed a decline in the number of people bothering to vote, with the voters’ apathy being put down to the fact that many voters didn’t see any of the candidates as being much better than the others.

This election was also marred by many reports of votes being bought, with suggestions that both the main parties, the PLD and PRD were actually paying individual voters to vote for them, even standing outside polling booths offering money for votes.

Unsubstantiated rumours suggest the price paid to each person for their vote ranged anything from 600 pesos to 2000 pesos each.

Critics were also keen to point out that the ruling PLD spent million of taxpayers money in the run up to the election, issuing incentives to the public to try to sway the voting.

Either way, for this election, the PLD vastly outspent their rivals and set a new record for campaign spending in the Dominican Republic.

Miguel Vargas, leader of the PRD who was hoping for a first term as President said this morning, "I accept and recognize the results of the elections." But he refused to congratulate Leonel Fernandez, saying the election had been marred by "the most shameful use of state resources."