Six senators of the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano (PRSC) have declared their wish to preside over the upper legislative body for the next session which begins on 16 August. The senators vying for the post are: Amable Aristy Castro of Villa Altagracia, the current president; Miguel Andres Berroa of Hato Mayor; Frank Martinez of La Romana; Tony Rivera of La Vega; Jose Hazim Frappier of San Pedro de Macoris; and Florentino Carvajal Suero of Elias Pina.
Mr. Carvajal Suero is the senior member of the Senate, having been elected by his constituents in the province of Elias Pina for eight consecutive terms. With 15 senators, exactly half of the legislative body, the PRSC has been able to hold the presidency for the last two years, with the support of Sen. Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal of the Partido de la Liberacion Dominicana (PLD).
Now that Mr. Fernandez Mirabal is Vice President-elect of the D.R., an ex- mayor of his native city of Salcedo, Dr. Bautista Rojas, will take his place in the Senate, and is likely to support the Reformista who is nominated to preside over the legislative body.
The current president of the Chamber of Deputies, Jose Ramon Fadul, has not yet said whether he will seek another term in the lower body. Three PRSC deputies, however, have already declared their intention to seek the position. Marino Collante Gomez of Santiago, Ramon Rogelio Genao of La Vega and Dr. Cesar Francisco Feliz of Barahona will try to unseat Mr. Fadul.