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Dominican Republic's Danilo Medina 'leads' in presidential election Dominican Republic's Danilo Medina claims election victory
(about 13 hours later)
The Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina looks poised to win the first round of voting in the country's presidential election, early results suggest. The Dominican Republic's President Danilo Medina has claimed victory in Sunday's election as partial results show him ahead by a wide margin.
He looks set to win enough votes to avoid a second round run-off. At a rally for supporters he said the people had voted to "continue on the path that we started".
With just over one-third of the votes counted, he had won 62%, ahead of his main rival Luis Abinader with 35%. With 67% of polling stations counted, Mr Medina had 62%, well ahead of his rival Luis Abinader on 35%.
Under Mr Medina, whose Democratic Liberation Party has been in power for 12 years, the economy has been booming. Mr Medina needs more than 50% to avoid a run-off. Final results are expected on Tuesday.
But Mr Abinader has accused the government of corruption and failing to tackle the high crime rate. "We have received the support of the majority of the Dominican people," Mr Medina told cheering supporters at his campaign headquarters in the capital Santo Domingo.
Mr Medina needs to get more than 50% to avoid a run-off. Mr Abinader has not yet conceded and said he would make his first comments on Tuesday.
Profile: Danilo Medina Voting on Sunday was extended for an extra hour after delays caused by technical problems at some polling stations.
Voting was extended for an extra hour after delays caused by technical problems at some polling stations.
Electoral rules were changed recently to allow the president to run for a second consecutive term.Electoral rules were changed recently to allow the president to run for a second consecutive term.
Mr Medina has benefitted from an economy that is the fastest growing in Latin America with 7% growth in 2014 and 2015, thanks to millions of tourism dollars from foreigners flocking to the country's luxury hotels and beaches. Profile: Danilo Medina
Mr Medina's Democratic Liberation Party has been in power for 12 years and the economy has been booming, largely thanks to tourism.
But around 40% of the nation's 10 million people are estimated to live in poverty and the unemployment rate is about 14%, according to government figures.But around 40% of the nation's 10 million people are estimated to live in poverty and the unemployment rate is about 14%, according to government figures.
Mr Abinader, a wealthy businessman of Lebanese ancestry, has blamed Mr Medina for government corruption and the country's high crime rate.
"Compared with the rest of Latin America, the attempts to reduce poverty have been the least effective," Pedro Silverio, an economist at the Pontificate Catholic University Madre Maestra in the Dominican Republic, told the BBC."Compared with the rest of Latin America, the attempts to reduce poverty have been the least effective," Pedro Silverio, an economist at the Pontificate Catholic University Madre Maestra in the Dominican Republic, told the BBC.
Mr Medina, a left-of-centre economist, has overseen the repatriation of tens of thousands of people with roots in neighbouring Haiti.Mr Medina, a left-of-centre economist, has overseen the repatriation of tens of thousands of people with roots in neighbouring Haiti.
The policy has popular support but has been condemned by human rights groups.The policy has popular support but has been condemned by human rights groups.
Mr Abinader, a wealthy businessman of Lebanese ancestry, has blamed Mr Medina for government corruption and the country's high crime rate.
Also up for election are senators, lower house deputies and local officials from 26 different parties.Also up for election are senators, lower house deputies and local officials from 26 different parties.