The List?n Diario reported that the politicians that aspire to be chosen the presidential candidate for the PRD feel that the handling by the party presidency of the LMD conflict was not adequate, and led to the PRD losing the post of secretary general. Hoy newspaper in its page two analysis said the party would have fared better if it had let Julio Mar??ez, the previous secretary general lobby for himself, than for the party leadership to have intervened as occurred. Presidential pre-candidate Rafael Suberv? Bonilla said over the weekend that the pre-candidates, including Hip?lito Mej?a, Milagros Ort?z, Hatuey Decamps and himself, should take over the party leadership, to more effectively defend party interests. He says the party has made several errors and favors moderation and transparency on behalf of the leadership of the party. Presidential pre-candidate Hip?lito Mej?a did not agree with Suberv? "airing the party’s dirty laundry in public." Mar??ez, representing the PRD, aspired to be re-elected, but was affected when PLD-PRSC coalition swayed PRD aldermen to their side. Political analysts say the party Presidium should have let Mar??ez lobby before the situation got out of hand and PRD delegates being coaxed by attractive offers made by the opposition. As a result, the PRD, in its intent not to loose the post, resorted to rule to increase the number of delegates so the vote would be in their favor, and the PRSC-PLD coalition responded with celebrating a separate election presided by the Minister of Interior of Police, who by law should preside the assembly. The PRSC candidate, Amable Aristy Castro, was running against the rules, as he is not a university graduate nor had worked the necessary years in city government. In the assembly where Aristy was elected, the rules were changed to allow a person who had presided the National Senate to occupy the post. As a result, two secretary generals were elected, but only one has a budget, the one elected by the PLD-PRSC coalition. The treasurer of the nation says he will be able to coordinate the use of the RD$1,600 million budget of the League. Meanwhile, Amable Aristy Castro has yet to resign from his post as Senator for La Altagracia. The explanation of why the PLD favored the PRSC can be found in simple mathematics. To win the presidential election in year 2000 a presidential candidate needs 50%+1 of the vote. To achieve that amount of votes, the votes of the PRSC will be essential, and thus the PLD is banking on maintaining the favor of the PRSC in order to again win the presidency in year 2000. Dr. Balaguer’s support to today President Fern?ndez in 1996 was essential to his winning the presidency. The PLD also expects the PRD, a party where confrontation is the norm, will not be able to maintain a unified front, with the individual pre-candidates fostering a division that will affect their chances of winning the presidency in year 2000. The PRD, considered the political party with the most followers, controls the Junta Central Electoral, the board that organizes the elections. The PLD and the PRSC have rejected the unilateral election of the judges of the JCE by the PRD majority senate, breaking from the formula of choosing these by consensus that brought about the successful elections of 1996. The PRD also rules the Senate, and has vowed not to pass any initiatives sent by the Presidency.
