Underlining his determination not to concede loss of the top job at the Dominican Municipal League (LMD), Julio Mar??ez Rosario (Dominican Revolutionary Party – PRD) yesterday set up a "provisional office" in the PRD-controlled municipal offices of the National District in order to continue acting as LMD Secretary-General (SG). Yesterday his rival for the post, Senator Amable Aristy Castro [Reformista Party (PRSC) – Altagracia], was installed at LMD headquarters with a heavy security contingent and a swearing in by Interior and Police Minister Ram?n Andr?s Blanco Fern?ndez. On Tuesday, January 26th, two parallel "assemblies" of municipality representatives were held which elected two different SGs. PRD and allied delegates met in Santo Domingo’s Embajador Hotel and "re-elected" Mar??ez Rosario after "nullifying" the designation of Minister Blanco Fern?ndez as President Ex-Officio (and convenor) of the General Municipal Assembly, the body normally charged with electing the organization’s SG. PRSC and Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) sympathizers meanwhile met at the Macorix Hotel in San Pedro de Macor?s and "elected" Aristy Castro after "amending" LMD rules to allow any prominent national politician to stand for the SG position, whether a college graduate or not (Aristy Castro does not have a university degree). At stake in this political battle is the League’s control of 4% of the national budget, currently RD$6 billion (about US$400 million at current exchange rates). PRD wants to retain control of the League, arguing that it is rightfully theirs after they won most of the nation’s municipal elections in 1998. The PRSC, which since the last elections has controlled no major national political institution, sees this post as insurance that it will remain a major political force.The Aristy Castro and Mar??ez Rosario office shows aside, the battle for control of the LMD now shifts to the Supreme Court, where PRD lawyers are filing briefs challenging the legality of Aristy Castro’s election. Still unclear is the stance of the Presidency toward such a legal challenge. Newspapers reported that the President’s Legal Counsel had said that the Executive Branch would not recognize the Court’s authority to hear the case, but yesterday denied making such a declaration.In a related story, PRD President in charge of functions Tony Raful declared that 95 mayors belonging to PRD and its allies will ignore any measures ordered by Aristy Castro.
