PLD deputies accuse Government of irregular pension grants

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) bloc of deputies took decisive action yesterday by submitting an extensive dossier to the Special Prosecutor for Electoral Crimes, targeting the Government.

Contained within this voluminous file are numerous decrees purportedly issued and signed by President Luis Abinader. The opposition faction alleges that these decrees grant thousands of solidarity pensions irregularly, asserting that they serve as a campaign tool for Abinader’s re-election aspirations.

Luis Henríquez, spokesperson for the PLD deputy bloc, emphasized the political and electoral motivations behind these alleged actions. He accused the president of utilizing public resources to dispense these questionable pensions, benefiting individuals aligned with his party and, in some instances, fulfilling financial obligations to leaders of other parties, thus exacerbating political opportunism and patronage in the country.

Henríquez further highlighted the disorder within the General Directorate of Pensions, echoing concerns raised by various sectors of Dominican society. He emphasized that the unchecked distribution of unsupported pensions poses a significant economic burden on the State, prompting widespread apprehension beyond the political sphere.

The opposition alleges that these pensions reach staggering amounts, with some purportedly reaching up to RD$80,000 per month. Henríquez emphasized the urgency for the authorities, particularly the Electoral Crimes unit of the Public Ministry, to address these irregularities and respond to the evidence provided in the submitted documentation.

In response to the allegations, Senate President Ricardo de los Santos (PRM-Sánchez Ramírez) defended the Government’s actions, asserting that the pensions granted do not exceed 6,000 pesos and are intended for needy individuals. Senator Lennin Valdez (PRM-Monte Plata) similarly voiced support for the Government’s position, emphasizing the significance of these pensions for the recipients, despite their nominal value.