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Party Alliances, the Municipios, and Decentralization

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Decentralization and Party Politics in the Dominican Republic

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Abstract

Nine crucial episodes in the maneuvering over decentralization are analyzed in detail. These include the establishment of non-concurrent elections, the election of a pro-municipal politician to lead the central state’s Municipal League, and the founding of a more autonomous Federation of Municipalities. In addition, combinations among parties led to two increases in revenue-sharing (1997 and 2003), and the capital city was sub-divided. A spontaneous local movement launched Participatory Budgeting (PB), which spread rapidly; important new laws also reduced the Municipal League’s power and made PB mandatory. The eff ects of these legal and policy innovations are evaluated, on the dimensions of institutional architecture, legislation, financial resources, and political momentum. The presence of shift ing party coalitions during this period is verified from relevant literature, and types of coalitions that may promote reform are distinguished.

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Notes

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  5. Cf. two editorials in the New York Times, which reached a wide readership in the Dominican Republic itself: “Mr. Balaguer’s Dubious Victory,” May 20, 1994, and “End the Dominican Charade,” August 6, 1994.

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  24. It is likely that the staff of Julio Maríñez, then general secretary of the LMD, helped to organize the Federation of Mayors, though documentary evidence to that eff ect has not been found. Certainly Sr. Maríñez admired the model of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, with which the LMD signed a cooperative agreement in August of 1995. Interview #D1, former administrator of the Dominican Municipal League, Santo Domingo, February 12, 2008.

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  37. This calculation is based on the data in Table 5.2.

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  43. The number was expanded to eight via additional legislation in 2005, which carved out three new municipalities in the Province of Santo Domingo—two from Santo Domingo Oeste and one from Santo Domingo Este.

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  44. Juana de Jesús and R. Polanco, “No hay poder en los ayuntamientos,” El Caribe (Santo Domingo), April 24, 2001.

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  45. The press noted during 2002 that President Mejía was seeking support among the mayors, to promote his re-election eff orts, “because [the mayors] are the ones who arrange jobs for party members and resolve community problems.” Aristides Reyes, “Convención PRD enfrentó grupos Mejía-Hatuey,” El Nacional (Santo Domingo), February 22, 2002.

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  51. In 2005, a high-ranking official of FEDOMU stated in an interview that “in 2003 the diff erences [of FEDOMU] with the Liga were resolved;” interview #B1, with an experienced FEDOMU official and a consultant to the federation, Santo Domingo, February 16, 2005.

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  61. Ramón Urbáez, “Leonel Fernández pide legisladores aprueben leyes,” Listín Diario (Santo Domingo), July 11, 2007, p. 4.

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  62. Interview #F5, former elected municipal and Congressional official (PRSC), Santo Domingo, October 12, 2011. Estrella organized his own party for the 2008 elections, called Dominicanos por el Cambio (Dominicans for Change).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New York University, USA

    Christopher Mitchell

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© 2014 Christopher Mitchell

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Mitchell, C. (2014). Party Alliances, the Municipios, and Decentralization. In: Decentralization and Party Politics in the Dominican Republic. Palgrave Pivot, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137353122_5

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