The first differences in the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano became apparent yesterday, according to Hoy newspaper’s front page headlines. Reportedly, the late leader of the party, Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez, had asked that the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies be granted to Miguel Sanz Jiminián, elected deputy for Santo Domingo for the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano. Dr. Joaquín Balaguer, leader of the PRSC, subtly supported the PRD at the end of the campaign. Tony Raful, acting president of the PRD favors Sanz Jiminián, who is the present president of the municipality of Santo Domingo, becoming the president of the Chamber of Deputies, once the new legislature opens in August. But PRD party secretary general Hatuey de Camps opposes this, saying that the presidency of the lower house should be granted to a PRD deputy. The differences are newsworthy, as one of the major challenges the PRD has ahead is maintaining cohesion and not dividing into different factions, as has frequently occurred in the past. Several party leaders aspire to be the party’s presidential candidate for the year 2000 elections, and thus the internal friction. Meanwhile, Dr. Enmanuel Esquea Guerrero, president of the party, said that the lack of unity could impede the party from repeating during the year 2000 presidential election, the victory obtained in the municipal and congressional elections. He warned that whoever affects the party’s unity will be considered a traitor, regardless of who that person is.
