With 99% of the votes counted, Danilo Medina proclaimed himself as the next President of the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile his opponent former President Hipolito Mejia who garnered 46.93% of the vote versus 51.24% of the vote for Medina, refused to concede.
This election brought out a record number of Dominicans with over 65% of the eligible population voting. There were six declared candidates but the election was really between Medina and Mejia.
This is 60-year-old Medina’s third try for the Presidency, he was the former secretary of staff for President Leonel Fernandez from 1996-2000. He has a degree in chemical engineering and economics. The Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) candidates’ first political position was in 1986 as president of the countries Chamber of Deputies.
Supporters of Mejia of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) are saying they will challenge the results and are charging voter fraud.
The ultimate winner needs to have more than 50 percent of the votes to avoid a runoff.
