DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · POLITICS
Key Facts
- Who Abel Martínez, a former mayor of Santiago, is seeking the opposition PLD’s presidential nomination for 2028.
- What He called the governing PRM’s promised ‘change’ obsolete and ‘a great electoral scam’.
- Claims He blames the government for more unemployment, insecurity and weaker household purchasing power.
- Reported His remarks, at a meeting with party leaders and citizens, were reported on 6 and 7 November 2026.
- As of Sunday, 8 November 2026, 08:00 UTC.
A Dominican opposition hopeful says the government’s slogan of change has failed, ahead of the 2028 presidential vote.
Abel Martínez, a Dominican opposition figure, said this week that the ‘change’ promised by the governing party is obsolete and a ‘great electoral scam’ against Dominicans. He spoke at one of his ‘Café con Abel’ meetings with party leaders and citizens, and the remarks were reported on 6 and 7 November 2026.
Martínez, a former mayor of Santiago, is seeking the nomination of the Dominican Liberation Party, the PLD, for the 2028 election. These are political claims, not findings, and we have not verified them independently.
What Martínez Said
He said even members of the governing Modern Revolutionary Party, the PRM, no longer dare to defend the change they promised. He blamed the current administration for more unemployment, more insecurity and weaker purchasing power in Dominican households.
He described a widespread sense of hopelessness and urged people not to be fooled again at the next election. Voters should judge candidates by their record and ability to govern, not by campaign promises, he said.
Who Is Who
The PRM has governed the Dominican Republic since 2020 under President Luis Abinader. The PLD governed from 2004 to 2020 and is now in opposition.
Martínez was the PLD’s presidential candidate in 2024, when Abinader won a second term. He has held meetings with supporters in the United States, including in New York.
What It Means for You
The Dominican Republic is a popular destination for US travellers, and its politics shape migration, tourism and investment. A campaign built on jobs and security shows which issues the opposition thinks will decide the next vote.
Related reading: our report on the audio of an alleged plot against President Abinader and Dominicans awaiting US green card interviews. Both show how Dominican affairs reach US readers.
What Is Not Known
We have not found a response from the PRM or the government to these remarks. The claims about unemployment and crime are political statements, and we have not checked them against official data.
It is not known whether the PLD will choose Martínez as its candidate. The next presidential election is due in 2028.
More: Dominican Republic news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Abel Martínez?
He is a former mayor of Santiago and a leading figure in the Dominican Liberation Party. He is seeking its presidential nomination for 2028.
What is the PRM in the Dominican Republic?
The Modern Revolutionary Party is the governing party. It has been in power since 2020 under President Luis Abinader.
When is the next Dominican presidential election?
It is due in 2028. Martínez and other hopefuls in his party are already campaigning for their parties’ nominations.
Sources: Public remarks by Abel Martínez at a ‘Café con Abel’ party meeting, reported 6–7 November 2026. No official response from the PRM or the government has been found.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated AI newsroom. Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. How we use AI · Report an error