Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez supported his strategy to ally minor parties by saying that the time has come for the country not to be directed by caudillos, and that his party is taking the necessary steps to ensure that the democratic forces from all sectors of national life have participation in his government. He said that there are politicians that make promises and politicians that carry out policies, referring to the promise of Leonel Fernández of the PLD to change the boxes of the bootblacks for computers.
Dr Peña Gómez was critical of the PLD which, he says, has never taught a person to read, nor has donated a book as a political organization. He said when he was mayor he built dozens of libraries and vocational schools. He said that if he reaches the presidency, he will fight to eradicate the illiteracy that affects two million Dominicans as he himself was a teacher for 10 years. He was speaking at the formal proclamation of his candidacy by the Partido Democratico Institucional (PDI). The event was headed by the president of that minority party, Congressman Ismael Reyes Cruz.