Orlando Gil, political commentator of El Siglo, explains that one of the reasons former President Joaquín Balaguer has again become active in politics is because former President Salvador Jorge Blanco has assumed the role of covert arbiter and behind the scenes thinker of the PRD, replacing the late José Francisco Peña Gómez. Gil mentions that Balaguer fears what may happen if the faction revolving around Salvador Jorge Blanco return to power. Balaguer tried Jorge Blanco for corruption while in office from 1982-1986. Jorge Blanco was sentenced to a multi-million fine and 23 years in jail after several months of a trial that was televised. Jorge Blanco served time in jail for corruption in office. This was considered a political complot, especially as when Balaguer returned to office in 1986 to stay in power until 1996, press reports highlighted acts of corruption greater than those Jorge Blanco was accused of. Gil comments, that Jorge Blanco has not forgotten.
