The OAS begins observation work ahead of the elections

Santo Domingo.- The Organization of American States (OAS) announced on Monday that its Electoral Observation Mission (MOE) has commenced its activities for the upcoming presidential and congressional elections in the Dominican Republic, scheduled for the following Sunday.

Led by former Chilean President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, the mission comprises 84 members from 19 different countries. Their focus includes monitoring various aspects such as electoral organization, technology, voting abroad, electoral violence, justice, financing, women’s political participation, and media and digital communication.

The OAS stated that the mission’s objective is to gather insights into the electoral process by engaging with government representatives, electoral authorities, candidates, academics, civil society members, and international stakeholders.

Upon completion of its observation, the Mission will issue a preliminary report containing observations and recommendations aimed at enhancing future electoral processes in the Dominican Republic.

This marks the twenty-second occasion the OAS has dispatched an Electoral Mission to the Dominican Republic, made possible through financial contributions from Brazil, Canada, South Korea, the United States, Spain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Nine candidates are vying for the presidency in the Dominican Republic. Independent polls indicate President Luis Abinader, seeking reelection, leading the race, followed by former three-time President Leonel Fernández and Abel Martínez, former mayor of Santiago, the country’s second-largest city.

The elections will also decide the composition of the bicameral National Congress, comprising 32 senators and 190 deputies, as well as 20 deputies to the Central American Parliament (Parlacen).