SANTO DOMINGO.- The OAS Electoral Observation mission leader for Dominican Republic, in his report to the entity yesterday, said although the electoral process consolidated democracy in the country, State funds were used to favor the ruling party candidate.

Jose Bordon said the Central Electoral Board (JCE) “acted correctly” and followed up on denunciations presented by citizens as well as the OAS delegation itself during the voting, won by the incumbent president last Friday.

The OAS official, however, noted that the “Dominican electoral norm still suffers despite all, from a void on issues such as the State participation in electoral campaigns, the regulation of political parties, and the investigation, prosecution and punishment for electoral crimes.”

“Just like what’s happened in many other Latin American countries the constitutional reform that allows re-election was approved without also having the legislative modifications related to the use of State funds, which has entailed a legal void that makes it difficult to control,” said Bordon, regarding the problems derived from the consecutive re-election,

During his observation mission, Bordon had said State funds were sued in Leonl Fernandez reelection bid, observation also shared by the U.S. States Department of State, through its embassy in the country.