A section of the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano announced that it may choose to back an opposition political party in the case it does not win the first round. It is highly improbable that a political party by itself will achieve sufficient votes to win the year 2000 presidential election in the first round. The Dominican Constitution requires that 50%+1 of the vote for a candidate to win in a first round. Johnny Jones, secretary of the organization, speaking at a party event held in San Juan de la Maguana, presided by former Vice President Jacinto Peynado and in the presence of Senator Amable Aristy Castro, elected secretary general of the Dominican Municipal League, said that the party would not ally with another party in the first round, but would consider doing so in the second round. He said that a possible alliance with the Partido de la Liberaci?n Dominicana, the ruling party, could occur in the second round, a repeat from the strategy that brought the PLD to the Presidency in 1996. During the meeting of the PRSC, possible presidential candidate for the PRSC, Jacinto Peynado said that he would support party leader President Joaqu?n Balaguer if the later decided to run for President. He said that if Balaguer declines, because of his age and health, the party should hold open primaries to choose the presidential candidate for the party.
