BRIEF HISTORY

The Dominican Liberation Party (Partido de la Liberación Dominicana, or PLD) is one of the main political parties of the Dominican Republic, and has a centrist position.

Founded by Juan Bosch in 1973, the PLD originally was considerably to the left of Bosch's original party, the Dominican Revolutionary Party. Today the party is seen gravitating towards a more centrist platform and embraces many neoliberal policies away from post-communist and neomarxist past. 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.

The party has been elected into office four times now with Danilo Medina as President of the Dominican Republic, in the 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012 elections, though losing in 2000. In May 2006 the party and its allies gained control of both houses of Congress.