Ex-Dominican president contesting loss in party's primary

Ex-Dominican president contesting loss in party's primary

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Former President Leonel Fernández on Monday contested his apparent defeat in a primary vote by the Dominican Republic's governing party to pick its presidential candidate for February's election.

Fernández, who held the presidency from 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2012, wants to run for a t third term. But the Dominican Liberation Party said he got 47.3% of the votes cast in Sunday's primary, finishing second to businessman Gonzalo Castillo Terrero at 48.7%.

The results are preliminary, pending official certification five days after the primary.

Fernández labeled the vote a fraud and called on international observers to verify the integrity of the process. Only members of the Dominican Liberation Party could vote in the primary.