Santo Domingo.– The presidential candidate for the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Abel Martínez, expressed his support for holding electoral debates in the country, but considered it necessary that they be conducted under conditions of equality, transparency, and respect for electoral regulations.
Martínez maintained that those who aspire to hold public office must be willing to present their proposals and respond to the concerns of the citizenry, understanding that debates offer the electorate the opportunity to compare the different options before heading to the polls.
“I have always been a champion of electoral debates because democracy is strengthened when ideas are put face to face,” stated the political leader.
The former mayor of Santiago also suggested that these meetings should serve to discuss solutions to the main national challenges and not be used as mechanisms for political promotion outside the periods established by legislation.
Martínez recalled that in November 2023, when he had already been chosen as the PLD’s presidential candidate, he publicly expressed his willingness to debate with the other aspirants.
Likewise, he noted that he subsequently agreed to participate in the debate organized by the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE), held in March 2024.
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In the opposition leader’s view, that meeting set a precedent for Dominican democracy by placing the main presidential candidates on the same stage to present their proposals to the public.
Martínez reiterated that the debates must guarantee broad participation and equitable conditions for all candidates, so that these spaces contribute to strengthening democracy and informed voting.
