Dominican Republic's Abinader sails to second term, pledges unity

People wait outside a school used as a polling station, to cast their votes, on the day of the presidential election in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic May 19, 2024. REUTERS/Henry Romero

SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) -The Dominican Republic's hugely popular President Luis Abinader vowed unity and leadership without distinction as he soared to victory in elections on Sunday, gaining a sufficiently wide margin to secure another term without a second-round vote.

With about 44% of voting centers reporting, Abinader held 59.09% of the vote, followed by three-time former President Leonel Fernandez with 26.94%, preliminary data from electoral authorities showed.