浪花直播

Image Credit

LAP

P. El presidente Luis Abinader, de la Rep煤blica Dominicana, gan贸 un segundo mandato el domingo con el 57% de los votos, evitando una segunda vuelta. Es impresionante, dadas las luchas de la mayor铆a de los oficialismos en la regi贸n en estos d铆as. 驴Cu谩l es su secreto?

R. Los tres 煤ltimos presidentes de la Rep煤blica Dominicana, desde 2004 hasta 2024, han sido reelectos f谩cilmente: Leonel Fern谩ndez en el 2008 con un 54%; Danilo Medina en el 2016 con un 62%; y Luis Abinader en el 2024 con un 57%. En otras palabas, el fen贸meno no es nuevo. Los factores claves que estos presidentes han tenido en com煤n incluyen: unidad del partido en el poder, divisi贸n de la oposici贸n y estabilidad macroecon贸mica. Abinader tambi茅n se benefici贸 de su plataforma anticorrupci贸n, que lo llev贸 al poder en el 2020, y del nacionalismo dominicano que enarbol贸 con relaci贸n a la migraci贸n haitiana y las relaciones dom铆nico-haitianas.

P. Abinader es claramente popular en casa, pero en el extranjero, su l铆nea dura sobre la migraci贸n haitiana ha sido controvertida. 驴C贸mo ven los dominicanos su enfoque hacia Hait铆, incluida su gesti贸n de la frontera? Dado los enormes problemas de Hait铆, incluida la aterradora violencia de pandillas, 驴seguir谩 siendo Hait铆 un desaf铆o importante en su segundo mandato?

R. Los dominicanos siempre han apoyadp mayoritariamente las medidas duras contra la migraci贸n haitiana. Consciente de eso, y ante el deterioro de la situaci贸n pol铆tica en Hait铆, el presidente Abinader utiliz贸 ese tema para ampliar su base de apoyo. Hait铆 no hab铆a sido tema de campa帽a electoral desde la elecci贸n de Joaqu铆n Balaguer a mediados de la d茅cada de 1990.

Siempre es un desaf铆o para la Rep煤blica Dominicana, pero asume relevancia en el discurso pol铆tico dominicano dependiendo de las circunstancias, incluido el nivel de migraci贸n. . Tambi茅n es un tema complicado porque la Rep煤blica Dominicana depende  de la mano de obra haitiana para la agricultura y la construcci贸n, y mantiene esa gran poblaci贸n migrante de manera irregular.

P. Los impactos econ贸micos y sociales de la pandemia fueron pol铆ticamente perjudiciales para muchos l铆deres, pero la gesti贸n de Abinader de esa crisis se destac贸, incluido su manejo del sector tur铆stico de la isla. 驴Fue eso un factor en las elecciones del domingo?

R. El manejo adecuado de la pandemia fortaleci贸 el gobierno de Luis Abinader, inaugurado en medio de la pandemia, en agosto 2020. El acceso temprano a las vacunas, su efectiva administraci贸n y los subsidios econ贸micos a distintos segmentos de la poblaci贸n dieron estabilidad a la sociedad dominicana en ese dif铆cil per铆odo. Como resultado, el pa铆s pudo reabrir temprano el turismo, promoverlo exitosamente e incluso ofrecer servicios de salud gratuito para cualquier visitante diagnosticado con COVID-19.

P. Las zonas francas de la Rep煤blica Dominicana ya representan la mitad de todas las exportaciones y Abinader ha prometido utilizar esas plataformas para atraer inversi贸n adicional de nearshoring. 驴Cu谩l es su argumento para las empresas extranjeras? 驴C贸mo continuar谩 diversificando el sector de nearshoring m谩s all谩 de las industrias tradicionales como textiles?

R. La principal publicidad para la inversi贸n extranjera en la Rep煤blica Dominicana es la estabilidad pol铆tica y econ贸mica, y los incentivos disponibles en el esquema de zonas francas, y para otras 谩reas, como el turismo. Dicho esto, un problema para diversificar el sector de nearshoring m谩s all谩 de las industrias tradicionales es la falta de mano de obra m谩s calificada.

English Version 

Q. President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic won a second term on Sunday with 57% of the vote, avoiding a second round. That is impressive, given the struggles of most incumbents in the region these days. What is his secret?

A. The last three presidents of the Dominican Republic, from 2004 to 2024, were easily reelected: Leonel Fern谩ndez in 2008 with 54%, Danilo Medina in 2016 with 62%, and Luis Abinader in 2024 with 57%. In other words, this phenomenon is not new. The key factors that these presidents have had in common include ruling party unity, opposition division, and macroeconomic stability. Abinader also benefited from his anti-corruption platform, which brought him to power in 2020, and in the Dominican nationalism he championed concerning Haitian migration and Dominican-Haitian relations.

Q. Abinader is clearly popular at home, but abroad, his hard line on Haitian migration has been controversial. How do Dominicans view his approach toward Haiti, including his management of the border? Given Haiti鈥檚 enormous struggles, including terrifying gang violence, will Haiti remain a major challenge in his second term?

A. The Dominican public has always largely supported tough measures against Haitian migration. Aware of this, and in light of deteriorating conditions in Haiti, Abinader used this issue to broaden his base. Haiti had not been a campaign issue since Joaqu铆n Balaguer鈥檚 election in the mid-1990s. It is always a challenge for the Dominican Republic, but it gains relevance in Dominican political discourse depending on the circumstances, including the level of migration. It is also a complicated issue because the Dominican Republic depends on Haitian labor for agriculture and construction, maintaining a large migrant population in an irregular status.

Q. The economic and social impacts of the pandemic were politically damaging for many leaders, but Abinader鈥檚 management of that crisis stood out, including his handling of the island鈥檚 tourism sector. Was that a factor in Sunday鈥檚 election?

A. The proper handling of the pandemic strengthened the government of Luis Abinader, inaugurated in the midst of the pandemic, in August 2020. Early access to vaccines, their effective administration, and economic subsidies to various segments of the population stabilized Dominican society during that difficult period. As a result, the country was able to reopen to tourism early, promote it successfully, and even offer free healthcare services for any visitors diagnosed with COVID-19.

Q. The Dominican Republic鈥檚 free trade zones already account for half of all exports and Abinader has promised to use those platforms to attract additional nearshoring investment. What is his pitch to foreign companies? How will he continue diversifying the nearshoring sector beyond traditional industries such as textiles?

A. The main advertisement for foreign investment in the Dominican Republic is its political and economic stability, along with the incentives available in the free zones, and for other sectors, such as tourism. That said, one problem with diversifying the nearshoring sector beyond traditional industries is the lack of a more skilled workforce.