The presidential candidate of the PRD, José Francisco Peña Gómez, accused the PLD of having a pact with President Balaguer and accepting gifts such as apartments, public works contracts, and positions at the head of the Chamber of Deputies. Speaking on his radio program Tribuna Democrática, Dr Peña Gómez said that Balaguer money has infiltrated the PLD and, by doing so, has influenced the PLD ideology, and associated it to a racial campaign. He accused the PLD and its leaders of abandoning the anti-Balaguer stance of more than 20 years and associating with the government. He said that while the PRD has not changed its ideology nor its plans, the PLD has changed so much that it has told U.S. officials that it will not establish relations with Cuba until President Clinton does, contradicting a party policy of many years standing.
He complained that Leonel Fernández is seen by close aides of President Balaguer as more trustworthy and a defender of their interests than Vice President Jacinto Peynado, who is running for the PRSC.
He also pointed out that at the rally held in Santiago, President Balaguer was not supporting Jacinto Peynado, but limiting himself to rallying his followers to vote against the presidential candidate of the Acuerdo de Santo Domingo. He said that stance only benefits President Balaguer, as it hurts the PRSC directors, especially those who want to occupy congressional and municipal positions in the 1998 election.