Spin management, backpedaling, dispelling false rumors or just an honest difference of interpretation? Dominicans are left wondering after the round of pronouncements made yesterday by Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) leaders about the Central Election Board (JCE) and its President, Dr. Manuel Ram?n Morel Cerda. On Wednesday evening the political dialogue between the three main political parties – PRD, the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and the Reformist-Social Christian Party (PRSC) – agreed in principle on a solution to their differences of opinion over the composition of the JCE. Although the participants refused to comment officially on the accord until it could be considered and approved by the directorates of their parties, off-the-record talks with reporters resulted in Thursday morning headlines proclaiming that the participants agreed to expand the Board from five to seven members and to request the resignation of its President, Morel Cerda. Yesterday several PRD leaders, including PRD President Enmanuel Esquea Guerrero, the head of the PRD delegation to the dialogue, denied that Morel Cerda’s resignation was part of the agreed package. "The PRD has a very clear position," he told reporters. "The resignation of the Central Election Board judges is not possible." He said that whatever accord is finally implemented regarding the JCE, "it must be constitutional." In recent weeks Dr. Morel Cerda has said repeatedly that there was "no constitutional way" to force him out of office, and he had no intention of resigning voluntarily. Yesterday the combative Senate President, Ram?n Alburquerque (PRD-Monte Plata) declared that the Senate could never go along with forcing out of office any of the current Board it appointed last August, because that would be unconstitutional. "Torture and prison" are the only way they can be forced to resign against their will, he asserted.
