President Luis Abinader’s decision to launch himself into the political arena and enliven his troops as leader of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) in the face of the 2024 electoral contest, is seen as the transition that begins a new cycle of leadership for him and that In addition, it legitimizes the campaign actions of the opposition.
This is how the political scientists Nelson Espinal Báez and Rosario Espinal have put it, when consulted by elCaribe, about the meaning and impact that the fact that the president and leader of the PRM, Luis Abinader, has harangued the Perremeist militancy so that they work to maintain power in 2024 defending the work of the Government and, in turn, adopt a more offensive speech directed at the political opposition.
According to Nelson Espinal Báez, the textbooks may say that the president came out at the wrong time to seek re-election but, he explained, that in his first two years the government of the Dominican Republic, with President Abinader at the head, this “ has been focused on developing efficient, effective and transparent crisis management”, a crisis from which there is still no way out on a global level.
“Sunday’s act begins a new political cycle, which has new meanings and a new reading. The ruling party today not only has a president, but a leader who showed courage and courage, something essential for the PRM, the government and for the success of the change itself, ”he says.
He believes that, as of last weekend, change as a political imprint is now taking the offensive and with this, there is a shift from crisis management to change management leadership.
“The PRM had a candidate and a President, today it also has a leader,” he says.
On the other hand, Rosario Espinal, -who was asked about the real meaning of political activism with President Abinader at the head as an ingredient-, maintains that with this the ruler enters the race and thus legitimizes campaign actions. of the opposition. In other words, he also gives strength to the activism of the opponents.
“In electoral democracies, politicians and parties are always campaigning. What can be regulated are some public activities such as demonstrations in public spaces or paid advertising”, he points out.
In a massive act, held at the Palacio de los Deportes, President Luis Abinader called for party unity to maintain power in 2024 and at the same time, announced that PRM militants would take to the streets to defend the administration and work of the government.
Under the slogan “Don’t look back”, the head of state called the attention of the Dominican people so that they do not think of another option for the 2024 electoral process and so that they trust in the performance of this administration.
With an aggressive speech against the opposition, Abinader downplayed the promises and criticisms they make. “That they contribute or that they separate”; “His time has passed”; “Where they are best is in the opposition”, were part of the expressions pronounced by Abinader in a speech that was nuanced by the cry of “four more years” that came from thousands of PRM supporters who were present at the act.
With his eyes set on a victory for the PRM in 2024, but without saying or making it clear whether he will reapply, he spoke about consolidating the organization’s registry, which currently has 1.7 million registered members, to increase it to 3 million with the purpose of reaffirming the party as the largest political force in the country.
Leaders say it was not a campaign event
Participating yesterday in several television programs, high-ranking leaders and members of the Executive Directorate of the PRM, who in turn are government officials, denied that last Sunday’s act was campaign or re-election, although they did not fail to express the right that For them, Abinader has to aspire to the Presidency again. For the Minister of Public Works, Deligne Ascención, the good evaluation that this government has and the management of the nation’s issues, make Abinader worthy of a reappointment. While the leader, Eddy Olivares, affirmed that what the ruler said was a forceful response to the opposition and a warning to the people of what had happened in 18 years.
Defend the right to share vision
The Administrative Minister of the Presidency and president of the PRM, José Ignacio Paliza, assured that the act was an institutional call for the renewal process of the authorities, but maintained that it is always in order that the leadership, which Abinader has, share the vision of the tasks that must be undertaken and that encourages the troops for what he understands should be the next steps with a view to strengthening themselves.
