Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


             Dominican Republic Voters Expected to Re-Elect Medina

   by VOA News

   Dominican Republic voters are at the polls and expected to re-elect
   President Danilo Medina in the first round of balloting.

   Pre-elections polls forecast Medina could take more than 50 percent of
   the vote, which is necessary to avoid a runoff against one of his seven
   opponents.

   His centrist Democratic Liberation Party has been in power for 12
   years, winning four of the past five presidential elections.

   ''

   In 2015, Medina, who was limited to one four-year-term, passed a reform
   that has allowed him to run for a second term.

   Medina benefits from an economy that grew by seven percent in the past
   year. But more than 40 percent of the Dominican Republic's 10 million
   residents are estimated to live in poverty.

   Medina has been criticized for government policies that discriminate
   against Dominican-born children of Haitian immigrant workers. He has
   overseen the repatriation of tens and thousands of people with roots in
   Haiti, a policy condemned by human rights groups.

   ''

   His closest competitor in Sunday's race is businessman who is expected
   to command about 29 percent of the vote.

   Abinader, who has never held public office, has campaigned on a
   platform of increasing social welfare programs, reducing crime, and
   increasing the national minimum wage.

   He has criticized the Medina government alleging corruption in
   government contracts.

   Nearly seven million Dominicans are eligible to vote in Sunday's
   election. Results are expected on Monday.

   Some material for this report came from AP, AFP and Reuters.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/dominican-republic-voters-expected-to
   -re-elect-medina-in-presidential-election/3331106.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/dominican-republic-voters-expected-to-re-elect-medina-in-presidential-election/3331106.html