Spanish
Although the Central Electoral Board has not officially kicked off the presidential pre-campaign for 2028, the Dominican political scene shows unequivocal signs of early activation. The main parties are moving as if the contest were underway, multiplying events, refining speeches and appealing to polls to legitimize positions, in a context where public opinion is beginning to take shape with unusual anticipation.
The sympathy measurements so far place the Modern Revolutionary Party as the main electoral force, although far from an incontestable dominance. The ruling party retains a relative advantage explained, to a large extent, by the weight of government management and the assessment of institutional stability, but faces the inevitable challenge of succession, as President Luis Abinader cannot opt for a new term.
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In that natural void, internal figures begin to project themselves, with special visibility of municipal officials and leaders, such as David Collado and Carolina Mejía, mainly, while the party seeks to balance individual promotion and institutional discipline to avoid a premature internal competition that erodes its cohesion. In parallel, Fuerza del Pueblo is consolidating as a structured and competitive opposition. Its leader, Leonel Fernández, has used mass events and public statements to project the idea that his organization is not only vying for second place, but can become a real alternative to power. His narrative is based on government experience and a systematic critique of the ruling party, with the aim of repositioning himself as a change option with management capacity. However, there is a dilemma that deserves particular attention within the Fuerza del Pueblo: Leonel vs. Omar. The founding leader embodies the experience, the proven electoral brand, and the natural leadership of the party; but the sustained growth and high public valuation of his son, Omar Fernández, has introduced unprecedented tension into the organization. This dilemma, handled with caution in public discourse, will be one of the main strategic challenges for the party sooner or later. In the panorama, it does not seem to be heading towards an open confrontation, but rather towards a process carefully managed by the partisan bodies and by the leadership of Leonel Fernández, aware that a direct struggle could fracture the organization. Everything indicates that the outcome will depend on several factors, such as the evolution of the polls, the political moment of the country, the internal maturity of the party and the ability of Omar Fernández to consolidate a national leadership beyond his political capital in the National District. In that scenario, a staggered exit is not ruled out, where the father leads the ticket in 2028 and the son is positioned as the natural heir, or, in a bolder turn, a consensus that prioritizes the figure with the greatest electoral viability at the decisive moment. Regarding the Dominican Liberation Party, the atmosphere is even more complex. Although it remains a relevant actor due to its territorial structure and recent history of power, polls place it in third place, which necessitates a profound reorganization. The proliferation of internal presidential aspirations reveals both vitality and fragmentation. The main challenge for the PLD is to rebuild credibility before an electorate that still associates its brand with the political costs of its departure from government and corruption scandals. Although it rehearses a tough opposition to the PRM and renewal speeches, it has not yet managed to impose a figure or a dominant narrative that allows it to clearly dispute the opposition hegemony against the Fuerza del Pueblo. Overall, the picture reveals a political system that has advanced the times of competition. Without formal authorization, there is already a pre-campaign in effect, polls circulating, leaders measuring themselves, acts that function as thermometers of strength, and speeches increasingly oriented towards 2028. The PRM tries to manage its advantage without fracturing; the Fuerza del Pueblo, in addition to growing, must intelligently resolve the delicate balance between father and son; and the PLD fights not to be relegated in a polarization that threatens to leave it on the sidelines. Everything indicates that, more than a short race, the 2028 presidential race will be an early marathon, where the consistency of the message, internal discipline and a fine reading of political moments will be decisive long before the JCE gives the official whistle.
