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Dominican Republic votes in election postponed over virus Dominican Republic votes in election postponed over virus
(about 13 hours later)
Voters in the Dominican Republic are choosing a new president on Sunday, in elections postponed from May due to the coronavirus pandemic. People in the Dominican Republic are voting to choose a new president, in an election that was postponed from May because of the coronavirus crisis.
Opinion polls suggest Luis Abinader of the opposition Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) is the favourite to gain the most votes in the first round. The vote could end the Dominican Liberation Party's 16 years in power.
To win outright, the top candidate has to receive more than 50% of the votes. Polls suggest its candidate Gonzalo Castillo is likely to be beaten by Luis Abinader of the opposition Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM).
Dominicans will also be choosing 190 members of the chamber of deputies and 32 senators.Dominicans will also be choosing 190 members of the chamber of deputies and 32 senators.
Incumbent President Danilo Medina is ineligible to stand for re-election, having served two consecutive terms since 2012.
If no candidate wins more than 50% of the votes in Sunday's first round, a run-off will be held.
Who are the top candidates for president?Who are the top candidates for president?
Opinion polls have consistently put Luis Abinader ahead of all other candidates.Opinion polls have consistently put Luis Abinader ahead of all other candidates.
Mr Abinader, whose family is of Lebanese descent, is a US-educated economist.Mr Abinader, whose family is of Lebanese descent, is a US-educated economist.
He is executive president of Grupo Abicor, a firm owned by his family which operates major tourism projects in the Dominican Republic.He is executive president of Grupo Abicor, a firm owned by his family which operates major tourism projects in the Dominican Republic.
He ran for president in 2016 and made it into the second round, but lost to outgoing president Danilo Medina, who beat him by almost 27 percentage points. He ran for president in 2016 and made it into the second round, but lost to Mr Medina, who beat him by almost 27 percentage points.
Mr Abinader and his wife announced on 11 June that they had tested positive for coronavirus and he had to temporarily stop campaigning while he recovered.Mr Abinader and his wife announced on 11 June that they had tested positive for coronavirus and he had to temporarily stop campaigning while he recovered.
The Dominican Republic is one of the worst-affected countries in the Caribbean, with more than 35,000 confirmed cases and more than 775 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.The Dominican Republic is one of the worst-affected countries in the Caribbean, with more than 35,000 confirmed cases and more than 775 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Mr Abinader surged ahead in the opinion polls after a split in the governing Dominican Liberation Party, which has been in power for more than a decade. Mr Abinader surged ahead in the opinion polls after a split in the governing party.
Under the Dominican constitution, presidents are limited to two consecutive terms in office. That means President Medina, who has been in power since 2012, is not able to stand. President Medina, who has been in power since 2012, has given his backing to Mr Castillo, a former minister of public works.
He has given his backing to the former minister of public works, Gonzalo Castillo. Mr Castillo is a wealthy businessman who has founded a number of companies over the years, including aviation firm Helidosa and air ambulance service Aeroambulancia.
Mr Castillo is a wealthy businessman who studied business administration in Canada and who has founded a number of companies over the years, including aviation firm Helidosa and air ambulance service Aeroambulancia. But some Dominican Liberation Party supporters may switch allegiance to former president Leonel Fernández.
But some of the voters who have in the past been loyal to the Dominican Liberation Party may switch allegiance to former president Leonel Fernández. Mr Fernández, who was president from 1996 to 2000 and again from 2004 to 2012, decided to run for the People's Force party, which he has been leading since he left the Dominican Liberation Party.
Mr Fernández, who was president from 1996 to 2000 and again from 2004 to 2012, decided to run in the election for the People's Force party, which he has been leading since he left the Dominican Liberation Party. He studied law in the Dominican Republic but spent much of his youth in New York. He has worked as a lawyer, university professor and author.
He studied law in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, but spent much of his youth in New York.
He has worked as a lawyer, university professor and author.
Opinion polls have him in third place behind Mr Abinader and Mr Castillo.Opinion polls have him in third place behind Mr Abinader and Mr Castillo.
However pollsters acknowledged that, with the elections being held under unprecedented circumstances amid the continuing pandemic, it was hard to predict how voters would react on the day.However pollsters acknowledged that, with the elections being held under unprecedented circumstances amid the continuing pandemic, it was hard to predict how voters would react on the day.
All candidates had to severely curtail their campaigning due to the virus, but the president of the central electoral board assured voters that polling stations had received hygiene kits and that the nation was "ready" for the elections.All candidates had to severely curtail their campaigning due to the virus, but the president of the central electoral board assured voters that polling stations had received hygiene kits and that the nation was "ready" for the elections.