CNN —Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader declared himself the winner of the weekend’s presidential election in a race where crime and safety were among voters’ biggest concerns.
Official results are still pending, but the election website shows the former businessman leading by a wide margin as two of his top challengers conceded.
“Tonight I called President Luis Abinader by phone to recognize his electoral victory and wish him success in his administration,” candidate Leonel Fernandez wrote on X.
“I’d like to wish luck to Luis Abinader, our country has plenty of challenges, I ask God that we overcome them as a nation,” Dominican politician Abel Martínez said in a statement.
Federico Parra/AFP/Getty ImagesThe vote comes amid the spiraling political and social crisis in neighboring Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic.
Persons:
Luis Abinader, Abinader, Leonel Fernandez, Abel Martínez, Federico Parra, Black
Organizations:
CNN — Dominican, Getty, United
Locations:
Dominican, Santo Domingo, AFP, Haiti, Hispaniola, Dominican Republic