SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) -- The runner-up candidates withdrew from the Dominican presidential race Thursday, recognizing a first-round victory by a populist who promises to spread the benefits of a four-year economic boom to the poor.
With all but 18 of 11,422 polling stations reporting from Tuesday's election, officials said Hipolito Mejia has 49.86 percent of the vote, just shy of the majority needed to avoid a June 30 runoff.But Mejia could emerge victorious now because of a rule that allows the elections board to declare a winner if any party declines to participate in a second round, said Dominican Liberation Party candidate Danilo Medina, who finished second.
At a news conference, Medina said he was withdrawing because forcing the country to endure another round of campaigning would be "a tortuous road" that could create instability and hurt the economy.
Ex-President Joaquin Balaguer also recognized a victory for Mejia's Dominican Revolutionary Party, according to his party's president.