Minority parties denied official status

Santo Domingo.- The Central Electoral Board (JCE) has rejectedapplications from four minority political groups seeking official recognitionin order to run in the May 2016 elections. Opción Democrática (DemocraticChoice) is led by Minou Tavárez Mirabal and V República was founded and is ledby former Armed Forces Minister José Miguel Soto Jiménez.

The Board also turned down applications from the Partido Comunitario(Community Party) and the Partido del Adulto Mayor (Older Adult Party or PAM).

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, JCE president Roberto Rosarioexplained that these organizations had not met the requisites for granting legalstatus as established in resolution dated 19th November 2011,especially article 8, section 6.

“After considered analysis, the plenary of the Central Electoral Board,by a majority vote, decided to rule that these four organizations had notcomplied with the established criteria,” stated the official.

The JCE decision was based on a study led by one of the board members, judge Eddy Olivares.

The Dominican general elections will take place on May 15thof this year.