Since the establishment of constitutional government in 1966, the Dominican Republic has experienced a troubled electoral history, including the manipulation of results and disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of opposition voters during the 1994 presidential elections. The subsequent political crisis was eventually resolved by the “Pact for Democracy,” an agreement that called for electoral reform and new elections in 1996. This ensured an electoral environment in which presidential or congressional elections are held every two years.
Since the 1996 elections, the three major political parties including the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) and the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) have peacefully accepted subsequent election results. This active electoral environment has witnessed the passage of presidential re-election reform legislation, the re-election of Leonel Fernandez of the PLD, internal fracture within the PRD which led to the creation of the Revolutionary Social Democratic Party (Partido Revolucionario Social Democrata, PRSD) and a severe decline in support for the PRSC.
Also during this period, the three main political parties have experienced significant internal conflict due to the loss of party caudillos (strong men) Joaquin Balaguer (PRSC), Jose Francisco Peña Gomez (PRD) and Juan Bosch (PLD). Most parties are using this juncture as an opportunity to modernize and institutionalize party structures.
Since 1994, NDI has conducted programs to help strengthen the electoral process and build confidence in the democratic system. Current activities are focused on strengthening political parties through support for emerging leaders committed to reforms.
Political Leadership Program
NDI launched the Political Leadership Program in 1999, a regional program to strengthen the leadership skills and ability of emerging political leaders to promote the modernization and renewal of political parties. Following a rigorous selection process, the one-year Political Leadership Program begins with an intensive, ten-day leadership development seminar and continues in-country with the young leaders implementing concrete party-strengthening projects.
Since 2001, 40 representatives from the PLD, PRD and PRSC have participated in the program. In coordination with the Dominican civil society organization Participación Ciudadana (PC), NDI provides technical assistance to participant party strengthening projects. Project results have included: the creation of a party ethics code; reforming party statutes to include a quota of 33% for women and youth in elected positions; the creation of a party vocational training school in an underprivileged neighborhood; increased training capabilities for party training institutes and women's party wings; and the decentralization of political training from the capital to the provinces. NDI technical assistance has included trainings on strategic planning, women's participation, youth and volunteer mobilization, media relations, outreach to underrepresented sectors, political negotiation, fundraising, adult education and community organizing.
Building on the results and methodologies of the Leadership Program, since 2006 NDI has provided technical assistance to the curriculum development of the Political Management Training Program of the Center of Governance and Social Management of the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo, which is collaborating with NDI partner organization Participación Ciudadana to implement a national training program for young political leaders.
Past Programs
Election Observation
NDI's international observer delegation to the 1994 presidential election detected high levels of irregularities, prompting the Institute and other members of the international community to question the legitimacy of the elections.
NDI observers also played important roles during the 1996 and May 2000 presidential elections. For the 2000 elections, NDI and The Carter Center organized a 24-member joint international observation delegation.
Recent elections have also benefited from the expertise of Participación Ciudadana, a civic organization that works to increase confidence and participation in the political process. NDI joined Participación Ciudadana, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the regional network of domestic observation organizations Acuerdo de Lima in sponsoring an international observer delegation to help monitor the 2004 presidential elections.
Contact Information
For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:
Mexico
Keila Gonzalez, Program Officer
+52 55 55 75 21 35
Washington, D.C.
Katy Mudge, Senior Program Manager
(202) 728-6308
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