Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez, leader of the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano, is optimistic today he will be able to announce a solution to the internal political impasse that has affected the organization, following the tight finish of the primary to elect the party’s candidate for mayor of Santo Domingo in the May 1998 election. According to press reports, Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez has proposed a formula whereby present mayor of Santo Domingo, Rafael Suberví, would be the senatorial candidate for Santo Domingo, Milagros Ortíz Bosch (who received the votes in the primary to win the senatorial position) would be the candidate for mayor, and Miguel Vargas and Julio Mariñez would become deputy candidates, while Eligio Jaquez would be the candidate for the secretary general of the Dominican Municipal League. Milagros Ortíz Bosch has publicly said she is not interested in the nomination for the mayor of Santo Domingo. The Listin Diario reported that the leading politician of the PRD, who has lost much of his influence because of his failing health, has given an ultimatum today to the three contenders for mayor (Julio Mariñez, Miguel Vargas and Eligio Jaquez) for the solution to the crisis. The crisis has postponed the continuation of the primaries of the party in several provinces. Peggy Cabral de Peña Gómez, Peña Gómez’s wife, has said she would accept the candidacy as mayor of Santo Domingo or to the presidency of the Republic in year 2000, if this were required of her.
