New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta)
Your one-stop-shop for information about national parliaments

Dominican Republic

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Senate

This is a bicameral parliament. Switch to theChamber of Deputies
Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Presidential system
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Bicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
15.05.2016
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.05.2020
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
32
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
224
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
194
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
30
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
13.39%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
17

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
6,765,245
Votes Number of people who actually voted
4,708,746
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
69.6%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
President Danilo Medina, elected in 2012, led the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and its allies to a fourth consecutive victory in the 190-member Chamber of Deputies (see note 1) and the 32-member Senate. The Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), led by Mr. Andrés Bautista García, came second. The PRM was formed in 2014 by members expelled from the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), which was the second largest party in the 2010 elections. In the presidential elections, the incumbent President (see note 2) defeated Mr. Luis Abinader (PRM). During the election campaign, the major parties focused on measures to counter crime and address illegal immigration. Note 1: The May 2010 elections were held for 183 seats in the Chamber of Deputies (up from 178) and 32 seats in the Senate. In accordance with transitional measures in the 2010 Constitution, seven members representing Dominicans abroad were elected in May 2012. The number of members in the Chamber of Deputies has thus increased from 183 to 190. Note 2: The 2010 Constitution prohibited consecutive presidential terms. On 12 June 2015, the National Revisory Assembly, composing senators and deputies and tasked with reviewing amendments to the Constitution, adopted constitutional amendments to allow consecutive re-election for the presidency, as was the case before 2010.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
6
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
35.29%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
81.25%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
No
Number of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
2
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) 26
Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) 2
Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) 1
Institutional Social Democratic Bloc (BIS) 1
Liberal Reformist Party (PLR) 1
Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) 1
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
29
Number of women elected
3
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
9.38%
Other notes
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry. Under the new Constitution, which came into effect in January 2010, the statutory term of the Congress of the Republic remains four years. However, those members elected in 2010 served a six-year term in order to synchronize presidential, parliamentary and local elections in 2016.
Sources
IPU Group (14.07.2016, 17.08.2016) Junta Central Electoral (02.06.2016) International Foundation for Electoral Systems Dominican Today Dr1
Women Directly Elected
3

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
29
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
3
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
16.08.2016
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Reinaldo Pared Pérez (Male)
Political party
Dominican Liberation Party (PLD)
Date of election
16.08.2016