Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Apr 20, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The Bishops Conference of the Dominican Republic is warning the countries political parties against voting fraud and dirty politics in the coming elections, calling on authorities to carry out elections with transparency.
In an official message regarding the presidential elections on May 16, the bishops called on candidates to avoid political mud slinging and the buying or falsifying of votes, and to leave aside violent confrontations. In addition, the bishops asked the country’s electoral commission to address concerns that have been raised about its work.
“In the current economic climate, campaigns should be austere, avoiding excessive expenditures,” said the bishops, recalling as well that the country expects the electoral commission to carry out its job with impartiality, fidelity to the truth, firmness and speed in the counting of votes.
The bishops also called on citizens to exercise their vote responsibly and soberly, and they insisted that the presidential candidates accept the election results with humility.
“In every race one must be read to win and to lose. Those who lose are just as much deserving of respect and admiration as those who win,” they said.