Former presidents Andrés Pastrana of Colombia and Jamil Mahuad of Ecuador Praise Dominican Republic Municipal Elections
Former presidents Andrés Pastrana of Colombia and Jamil Mahuad of Ecuador were part of the observation mission from the Democratic Initiative of Spain and the Americas (IDEA) for the recent municipal elections in the Dominican Republic. They released a report on Wednesday, praising the calm, orderly, and enthusiastic nature of the elections.
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) was commended for its organization of the February 18 elections, which allowed for a smooth voting process. The mission’s main focuses were on free political participation, the organization of the elections, the use of technology, information channels, and financing.
While the elections occurred peacefully, incidents in the provinces of Azua and Monte Cristi were noted. Despite a lower voter turnout than in presidential elections, the 46.67% participation rate was within the Dominican average for municipal elections.
The observers congratulated the Dominican people for responsibly exercising their political rights and commended the communication and dialogue between political actors and the JCE. They also praised the JCE for the effective use of technology in transmitting and disseminating election results.
The mission recommended continued improvement of the Dominican Republic’s electoral system to further enhance the country’s democratic processes and maintain its credibility in the region. The municipal elections saw the election of 158 mayors, 1,164 councilors, 235 municipal directors, and 735 members, with over 8.1 million Dominicans participating in the process.
During their stay in the Dominican Republic, the observation mission met with various political figures, including former presidents and current party leaders. The mission emphasized the importance of free, fair, competitive, periodic, and credible elections in the region.
The successful completion of the election count within five days was also highlighted as an achievement. The observation mission’s report serves as a testament to the Dominican Republic’s commitment to democratic values and electoral integrity.
(Note: Information sourced from Agencia EFE)