Dominican Liberation Party
The Dominican Liberation Party is a political party in the Dominican Republic. Founded in 1973 by former president Juan Bosch, the party, along with the Dominican Revolutionary Party, have dominated politics in the country since the establishment of democracy.
Overview
The party has been elected into office five times now, with Danilo Medina as current President of the Dominican Republic, in the 1996, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 elections, though losing in 2000. In May 2006 the party and its allies gained control of both houses of Congress.At the legislative elections, 16 May 2002, the party won 29.1% of the popular vote and 41 out of 150 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 2 out of 31 seats in the Senate. Its candidate at the presidential election of 16 May 2004, Leonel Fernández, won 57.1% of the vote.
Founded by Juan Bosch in 1973, the PLD originally was considerably to the left of Bosch's original party, the Dominican Revolutionary Party. Bosch ran for president as the party’s candidate several times, but did not win. Following Bosch’s retirement, Fernandez became the leader of the party and won the 1996 presidential elections after forming an alliance with Dr. Joaquín Balaguer, Bosch’s political enemy for over 30 years. He did not run for another term in 2000, but returned to the presidency in 2004. The party's logo is a yellow five-pointed star on a purple background.
In the 16 May 2006 legislative elections, the party led the Progressive Bloc, that won 96 out of 178 deputies and 22 out of 32 senators.
On May 16, 2008, presidential elections were carried and PLD candidate Leonel Fernández won 54%, defeating 7 other presidential candidates.
On May 16, 2010, congressional and municipal elections held, the Dominican Liberation Party won a majority of Senators and Representatives, as well the largest number of mayors around the country.
On May 20, 2012 the PLD won its third straight Presidential elections with its candidate Danilo Medina, with 51.2% of the vote, against former President Hipólito Mejía, from the Dominican Revolutionary Party who obtained 46.9% on these elections.
By 2016, the PLD has retained the Presidency of the Dominican Republic for 16 out of the previous 20 years, and has become the only party in the Dominican Republic to have attained this achievement in the country's democratic history after the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo which lasted between 1930 until 1961.
On July 5, 2020, the party's 16-year rule in the Dominican Republic officially ended after losing to the rival Modern Revolutionary Party.
Full members of the Political Committee
| Member | Admission | Age |
| Euclides Gutiérrez Féliz | 1973 | 76 |
| José Joaquín Bidó Medina | 1973 | 80 |
| Felucho Jiménez | 1978 | 63 |
| Lidio Cadet | 1982 | 80 |
| Danilo Medina | 1990 | 61 |
| Leonel Fernández | 1990 | 59 |
| Juan Temístocles Montás | 1990 | 62 |
| Alejandrina Germán | 1995 | 63 |
| Eduardo Selman | 1995 | 71 |
| Jaime David Fernández Mirabal | 1996 | 56 |
| Reinaldo Pared Pérez | 2000 | 56 |
| Bautista Rojas Gómez | 2001 | 61 |
| Cristina Lizardo | 2001 | 54 |
| Francisco Javier García | 2001 | 53 |
| Franklin Almeyda | 2001 | 70 |
| José Tomás Pérez | 2001 | 57 |
| José Ramón Fadul | 2001 | 60 |
| Ramón Ventura Camejo | 2001 | 59 |
| Radhamés Segura | 2001 | 63 |
| Rafael Alburquerque | 2004 | 72 |
| Carlos Amarante Baret | 2006 | 52 |
| Alma Fernández | 2006 | 62 |
| Julio César Valentín | 2006 | 46 |
| Radhamés Camacho | 2006 | 54 |
Temporary members of the Political Committee
| Member | Admission | Reason | Age |
| Abel Martínez | 2010 | Elected President of Chambers of Deputies | 40 |
| Margarita Cedeño | 2012 | Elected Vice-President of the Republic | 47 |