Yesterday three of six PRD luminaries seeking the party nomination for president in the year 2000 elections rejected the idea of selecting the party standard-bearer "by consensus" among PRD upper ranks. Senator Milagros Ort?z Bosch (National District), former Santo Domingo Mayor Rafael ("Fello") Suberv? Bonilla and ex-Agriculture Minister Hip?lito Mej?a all insisted that they believe the party’s nomination should be decided by PRD rank-and-file at a national convention, as originally planned. A fourth pre-candidate, PRD Secretary-General Hatuey Decamps, had already expressed his reservations about the idea. The convention was originally scheduled for this month, but has been postponed indefinitely. This week Senator Milton Ray Guevara (PRD-Saman?) suggested that a candidate be decided by consensus among party leaders so that the party can present a united front. Several PRD leaders have expressed interest in the idea, while stressing that it is not an official proposal under consideration by the Party Presidium.
