Manuel Cruz argued that many political leaders fail when they only look at what they want to achieve and neglect what they already have to compete.
The communicator and political analyst spoke from Santo Domingo about the Dominican electoral landscape and stated that this mistake explains the downfall of several party projects. His reading focuses on the value of political capital, internal discipline, and the ability to preserve strength before thinking about new goals.
Cruz summarized his diagnosis with a direct phrase: politicians focus on their aspirations and stop valuing their real assets. In his opinion, this behavior usually opens the door to wear and tear, dispersion, and loss of credibility.
Manuel Cruz‘s approach fits with an old rule of Dominican politics: no party reaches an election solidly if it does not first protect its internal structure. On this point, the analyst was clear in insisting that ambition without a foundation ends up weakening any candidacy.
“Politicians fail because they focus on what they want and forget what they have.”
PLD, Gonzalo Castillo, and internal tension
Referring to the PLD, Manuel Cruz said that Gonzalo Castillo has helped improve the party’s image, although he warned that a new division could be lethal. His metaphor was forceful: a simple “internal flu” could turn into “pneumonia.”
This comment comes at a time when the PLD continues to gauge how to regain ground against its traditional rivals. For the analyst, the key lies not only in projecting figures, but in sustaining party cohesion.
Fuerza del Pueblo and the weight of Leonel Fernández
Regarding Fuerza del Pueblo, Manuel Cruz stated that Leonel Fernández retains greater personal strength than the party he leads. That difference, according to his reading, continues to mark the organization’s political ceiling.
This point is not minor: in Dominican politics, the figure of the leader usually weighs more than the structure, and that can help in the short term, but it can also limit institutional growth.
PRM and the scenario towards 2028
Regarding the PRM, the analyst considered that the government can improve its image if it maintains the pace of works and inaugurations during 2027. In his view, the constant exposure of public execution strengthens the perception of management.
He also ruled out that an outsider candidate currently has real conditions to win in 2028. He said that there is not enough time to build a competitive machinery from scratch.
Manuel Cruz‘s final message was clear: in politics, Manuel Cruz understands that the most costly mistake is losing sight of one’s own base. And if Dominican parties do not correct this habit, Manuel Cruz warns that they will run into the same problem again in 2028.
