José Francisco Peña Gómez, on his radio program Tribuna Democrática, and on a full page in the Listín Diario on Saturday, 4 May says that he believes that sectors related to the anillo palaciego, or inner circle of the Presidency, are interested in inciting the differences between the PLD and the PRD in order to create chaos that would result in the interruption of the election and the permanence power of President Balaguer. Dr Peña Gómez praised the way the organization of the 1996 election by the Junta Central Electoral, the Armed Forces, the National Police and President Joaquín Balaguer himself.
“We believe that behind the aggression is the hate, the haranguing and contempt, expressed towards us for 20 years by the leaders of the PLD. The founder of the PLD was a presidential candidate and one of the founders of the PRD. He said that this should not be the way as both parties come from the same liberal, progressive and democratic roots and should sustain a respectful and considerate relationship. He said that given the strong feelings that separate the two, dark sides of the national politics linked to the desire to prolong the presidency of President Balaguer seek to deepen these differences and cause confrontations that would handicap the holding of the election.
He said that Lic. Hatuey de Camps met with Leonel Fernández, presidential candidate of the PLD who, he said, they recognize as a civilized man, to warn him “of the dangers for both parties and the need to end this criminal plan. “