The Political Committee of the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) ruled to ratify the decision of the party’s former leader, Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez whereby three senators, 35 deputies and several mayors, deputy mayors and aldermen should hand in their posts to substitutes that were part of a political agreement made by the late party leader. By handing in their posts in 16 August 2000, the congress and municipal executives also need to relinquish their benefits, including tax exempted vehicle, millionaire three year loans and 33% of their salary. The agreement, known as the 2 x 2 formula, is against the Constitution, and if the elected officers do not choose to resign, they do not have to do so. It was enacted in order to maintain the unity. One political analyst said that by ratifying the agreement, the party seeks to gain time. The PRD expects to win the presidential elections in year 2000 and then be able to negotiate with the elected congressmen or their substitutes government positions in order to maintain the peace.
