The impact of Santiago Matías and Dominicanos Primero on the Dominican political landscape
The formal foray of Santiago Matías, widely known as Alofoke, into the national political scene has sparked an intense debate among the country’s main power players. With his sights set on the 2028 elections, the Dominicanos Primero project has begun to capture the attention of the traditional political class, even before obtaining official recognition from the Central Electoral Board (JCE).
The creation of this new political force marks a milestone, as Matías has decided to build his own structure from scratch, after having declined previous offers from established parties, including the interest shown by the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC).
Conflicting positions across the political spectrum
The reactions of traditional parties reflect a mix of caution and recognition in the face of a phenomenon that does not stem from conventional structures. Among the most notable positions are:
- PRSC: Federico Quique Antún was one of the first to open the doors of his organization to Matías, recognizing his potential before he decided to embark on his own path.
- PLD: Jhonny Pujols, the party’s secretary general, has stressed that, while any citizen has the right to participate in politics, success in this field requires a genuine commitment to a vocation of service.
- Fuerza del Pueblo: Former President Leonel Fernández has defined Matías as a communicational phenomenon, although he warns about the technical challenges of converting digital influence into a solid territorial structure. For his part, Omar Fernández has suggested that Matías’s ability to mobilize people should not be underestimated by any sector.
The true test for Dominicanos Primero will be to demonstrate whether the enormous audience and the capital of influence that Santiago Matías has consolidated on digital platforms can be transformed into active militancy and competitive capacity at the polls.
Backings and social perspectives
The project has not only generated noise in politics, but also in the business and religious sectors. Juan Ramón Gómez Díaz, president of Grupo Telemicro, has publicly expressed his support for Matías’s presidential aspirations for 2028, a significant gesture given Gómez Díaz’s trajectory and influence in the national media sphere.
On a social level, voices such as that of priest Norberto Rosario have urged not to overlook the influence that Matías exerts over various strata of the population, acknowledging that his impact transcends the screens.
The challenge of the electoral transition
As the recognition process before the JCE moves forward —with the recent acceptance of the filing of party symbols—, the big question remaining in the political environment is whether the capital of influence can be translated into votes. The transition from a media figure to a political leader with territorial presence, leaders, and a vision of the State is the challenge that will define the future of Dominicanos Primero in the coming years.
