Modern Revolutionary Party, a major Dominican political party founded in 2014 after a split from the PRD. Though it was created to reform the political system, it is often criticized for repeating the same internal power struggles and local bossism, or caciquismo, that defined older parties. The party is characterized by its intense and constant opposition to the PLD party.
PRM equals PPH (PPH refers to the political faction loyal to former president Hipolito Mejia).
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A derogatory backronym for the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), defining them as a gang of shitty troublemakers. (The PRM is a major political party in the Dominican Republic).
If we lose the elections, we will throw people into the streets against them.
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A Dominican journalist with leftist roots known for his aggressive bias toward the PRD and PRM political parties (major political parties in the Dominican Republic). He is notorious for being one of the biggest bootlickers to ever serve leader José Francisco Peña Gómez and later President Hipólito Mejía, while harboring a deep personal hatred toward rival Leonel Fernández. He is known for refusing to accept electoral defeats, habitually claiming fraud and inventing unverifiable theories to justify his party's losses without looking like a total fraud. Critics view him as a resentful partisan who tries to style himself as a modern version of Orlando Martínez (a legendary journalist assassinated in 1975) while inciting street violence when results do not favor his side.
'In politics anything goes, because politics is a war': Juan TH justifying the constitutional reform for Hipólito Mejía's re-election
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A government shill or a public employee who backs the ruling party just because they are on the state payroll. In highly partisan contexts, it is also used as an insult for anyone who stays neutral rather than criticizing the authorities. (In the Dominican Republic, the term literally translates to check-eater, implying their loyalty is bought with government money).
Look at that comecheques, he is going to work instead of joining the protest.
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A boogeyman or a scary figure used to threaten someone into behaving. (The term was popularized by former Dominican president Hipolito Mejia as a figurative threat against his political rivals, the PLD party).
Eat your pigeon peas or I will let the Perro de Mamá Belica loose on you.
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Second in command of the PLD party: a good colonel who leads the troops but forgets there is a brigadier general who outranks him and appoints all officials, Leonel Fernandez. Although a good political strategist, he lacks public charisma, making him a perpetual second fiddle. The common saying is: as long as Leonel Fernandez breathes, Danilo Medina should not aspire (The PLD is the Dominican Liberation Party, which was led by Fernandez for years before Medina became president in 2012).
The poor are not deadbeats.
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The massive personal wealth and financial immunity of Dominican politicians, especially those who have held office multiple times (refers to the perception that their money, often acquired through corruption, is armored or untouchable by the law).
Economía Blindada, Pichirri, jinx, Gurabo, Bitch, Mama Belica, tough guy, PRD, PLD, PRSC, ghost employee, Deputy, Senator, Councilman, thief, secretary, state, crooks, embezzlement, Dominican Republic.
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A member or supporter of the Dominican Revolutionary Party. They are stereotypically described as being rowdy, liars, heavy rum drinkers, rude, and foul-mouthed (The PRD is a major political party in the Dominican Republic).
Everyone get in, damn it! Rafael Alburquerque.
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A synonym for a jackass or an idiot. It characterizes a leader as being worse than a dictator or as being a clown who acts as his own jester. (Refers to former Dominican president Hipólito Mejía, known for his frequent crude gaffes and the major economic crisis during his term.)
Thank God that damn crazy guy is gone!
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A slogan for the Dominican politician Miguel Vargas Maldonado, standing for Miguel Vargas Presidente. It is used derisively because he failed to win the presidency and did not even manage to become a mayor. (MVP is also a play on the sports term Most Valuable Player, making his political defeat a common joke).
A: Where is the MVP at? You do not hear about him anymore. B: He must be around somewhere with a headache after all the money he spent.
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A sarcastic acronym standing for Mierda, Viejo, Perdimos (Shit, man, we lost). It is used to mock someone who failed or was rejected after being overly confident, playing on the standard sports term for Most Valuable Player.
The MVP was left all dressed up with nowhere to go (quedarse con el moño hecho is a local idiom for being ready for a plan that falls through).
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The act of engaging in political hustling or electioneering to help a candidate win, while hoping and praying to be rewarded with favors or a job once they take office. (In the Dominican Republic, this refers to the culture of patronage where supporters expect a kickback for their loyalty during the campaign).
A: Where is Ramon? B: That guy is deep in politiqueria, following those demagogues who will just leave him hanging after they win.
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A derogatory renaming of the Dominican Liberation Party as the Party of Dominican Brown-nosers (the acronym officially stands for Partido de la Liberacion Dominicana).
The people who spend all their time kissing up to Leonel just to see if they can get some money to rub off on them (Leonel refers to Leonel Fernandez, a former president).
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Dominican Lowlife Party. A derogatory way to refer to a political party where the country's most trashy and low-class people stand out. (PRD officially stands for the Dominican Revolutionary Party, but the middle word is replaced here with ratrero, a slang term for a lowlife or someone without dignity).
Hipolito Mejia is a living example of the PRD.
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Former President of the Dominican Republic, known for his informal, rural style of speech and colorful proverbs (he is a frequent subject of jokes and memes due to his blunt personality and linguistic gaffes).
One of his sayings: When the yuca is big, the ground splits open.
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The Alternative Democratic Movement, a political party. Led by the big man Miguel Vargas, a presidential candidate who is way ahead of the game, buying people off to vote for him. But that is all BS because he is the absolute beast of the country. (Miguel Vargas is a prominent Dominican politician and MODA is a real political party).
The future president is in the MODA, with his movement!
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A catchphrase originating from a famous political advertisement used to express deep disillusionment or a sense of betrayal by one's own group. It literally means they put out my torch (the jacho, or torch, is the symbol of the Dominican Revolutionary Party).
What a shame, comrade... what a shame. You all are splitting the party in a free for all fight while I am out here struggling, you are playing with my feelings, lying, saying one thing today and another tomorrow, deceiving me. ME APAGARON EL JACHO, COMRADE. They put it out on me. Whoever tricks me once is a scoundrel, but if they trick me twice, I am the scoundrel. It hurts to say it, comrade... but we are better off with Leonel!
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A slang term for a thief disguised as a police officer or a corrupt cop who uses their position to rob people. They are considered the most effective thieves because they are never arrested, as they can always claim they were just doing their job (referring to members of tactical police units who are often accused of extortion in the Dominican Republic).
A: Dude, one of those SWAT caught me. B: No way!! How much did he take from you?
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A mocking reinterpretation of the political acronym PPH, meaning People Going Hungry (it originally stood for Proyecto Presidencial Hipólito, the faction of former president Hipólito Mejía, and is used to criticize the economic hardship associated with his administration).
The party created to make the People Go Hungry (PPH).
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Derived from the fake Latin Ladronasous (big thief), this is a peculiar character in Santo Domingo who talks nonsense, collects a salary for a ghost job (botellas), buys luxury SUVs (jeepetas), pays off their bootlickers (tumba polvo), and maintains a couple of mistresses. They can be found in positions like deputy, mayor, senator, police colonel, Catholic Cardinal, or President. (Botella refers to a person on a government payroll who does no work; jeepeta is a high-end SUV; tumba polvo is a sycophant).
To see the biggest cluster of politicos, check out a presidential motorcade heading to the provinces and you will see up to 200 jeepetas and luxury cars following their leader.
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Política is the process, ideologically driven by greed, through which a person can go from being a nobody to being rich in the Dominican Republic overnight. (This definition reflects a common cynical view of local politics as a tool for rapid, corrupt enrichment.)
Which is what has caused the country to be buried in the debt it is in.
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An acronym for Sin Ingresos Despues de Agosto (No Income After August). It is a term used every four years by government employees who expect to be fired once a new political party takes power (Dominican administrations change over on August 16).
Well brother, the new administration is almost here, let's sign up for SIDA.
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A member or supporter of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD). It is used as a derogatory label for someone considered vulgar, socially resentful, and incompetent. The term carries racist and classist undertones, describing them as black in both race and mindset. They are seen as a machine for destruction that sabotages while in the opposition but ruins the country when in power, mockingly called the Greatest Sewer. (The PRD is a major political party in the Dominican Republic historically supported by lower-income and Afro-descendant citizens).
Example: Hipolito Mejia
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A slang term for the police, especially those conducting nighttime raids. (This word is also widely used in Puerto Rico).
Here comes La Jara, everyone start running!
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A pot-bellied guy with the back of his neck tanned dark from the sun. He always wears a shirt so tight the buttons are about to pop off, and because of his crappy salary, he has no choice but to team up with thieves (tiguere is a Dominican term for a street-smart, often shifty person).
Dominican policia (a national character).
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A corrupt, self-serving politician who uses their position for personal profit while showing total disregard for the public. (The term is a phonetic adaptation of the English phrase fuck you, describing a leader who essentially says this to the public.)
The fokiuse gathered for an emergency meeting to review the national budget: in other words, their own salaries, daily stipends, and money for their private foundations.
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A nickname for Miguel Vargas Maldonado, a prominent politician and former presidential candidate for the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD). The name is a play on his initials and the common sports acronym for Most Valuable Player.
El MVP!!
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A system of government based on being chopo (a derogatory Dominican term for someone perceived as low class, vulgar, or uncultured). Hierarchical positions are earned through the worst human qualities, prioritizing anti-values, lack of education, and incompetence over merit. Chopocracia is linked to a parasitic state where officials are chosen based on campaign contributions or favors owed to sponsors, paid for with state resources. It perpetuates ignorance and poverty to secure votes from an electorate that is kept from choosing better leaders. In this context, chopo represents a lack of scruples and dignity.
The Dominican congress, the Dominican military, the PRD and PLD political parties, and the PLD deputy who physically attacked a congressional employee are examples of Chopocracia.
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A campaign slogan for Dominican politician Miguel Vargas Maldonado. It is used to describe being hyped, ready to go, or showing total support for a cause or leader (Miguel Vargas Maldonado is a prominent leader of the PRD party).
Get yourself activao con miguel.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Former President of the Dominican Republic (2000 to 2004) notorious for his vulgar vocabulary, constant gaffes, and poor leadership. Despite representing the PRD party, his attempts at re-election through his own PPH faction and his handling of the Baninter bank collapse made him one of the most mocked figures in Dominican politics. He is remembered for his ocurrencias (bizarre remarks) and for being so unpopular that he once famously lost a hypothetical radio poll to the Devil.
Among his famous phrases are: 'It was not that a page was lost, it was that they did not put it there for me (Hipólito Mejía during his inauguration speech).' 'If I were a hen, I would not lay an egg for less than that.' 'Hipólito, the nurses have not been paid!' 'That is on you, because I got paid a while ago.' 'Hipólito, the street is tough!' (a slang way to say the economy is bad) 'Walk on the sidewalk then.' '99 percent of politicians are corrupt (referring to himself).' 'I am the party.' 'I tie the macro to the micro, so that those at the bottom get some crumbs.'
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República Dominicana