Dominican Republic presidential election, 2000

Presidential elections were held in the Dominican Republic on 16 May 2000.Hipólito Mejía of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) won the election, defeating Danilo Medina of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and former president Joaquín Balaguer of the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC). Voter turnout was 76.1%.

The last presidential election in 1996 saw Leonel Fernández of the PLD elected as President. He defeated José Francisco Peña Gómez of the PRD in the runoff after incumbent President Joaquín Balaguer, told his supporters to back Fernández. His party's candidate, then Vice President Jacinto Peynado had come in third place at the election without support from the core of the party.

Between 1996 and 2000 the economy grew strongly, with 7.1% growth in 1998 and 8.3% in 1999. This growth, the fastest of any Caribbean country, was fueled by increased foreign investment and the privatisation of state owned enterprises. However Fernández's approval ratings were only 45% by 1999, with strong discontent among the poor who had not benefited from economic growth and had seen power cuts and price rises. This helped lead to the opposition PRD winning a majority in the 1998 parliamentary elections.

Fernández was unable to run for re-election as the then constitution prevented consecutive presidential terms. As a result the governing PLD selected an aide to Fernández, Danilo Medina, as their candidate. However there was little enthusiasm for Medina, even in the PLD, and he trailed in the polls.

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