Hipólito Mejía is of opinion that the convention to choose the PRD candidate to the presidential election of 2000 should be held now. The convention is set for 16 May 1999, but presidential candidate hopefuls Rafael Suberví and Hatuey Decamps oppose its celebration with the present voters list that they say is full of irregularities. Most polls show Mejía is by far the leading contender for the presidential candidacy of the party. Over the weekend, Mejía said he would accept a postponing of the convention, but for no more than three weeks. Mejía is focusing so far his campaign on that he will govern for the entire country, and not just for the urban population of Santo Domingo. The party enters the anniversary of the death of leader, Francisco José Ureña Gómez who was known to come up with conciliatory formulas out of his hat that avoided internal confrontations and lead the party to a sweep of the congressional and municipal election in 1998. The PRD celebrating many events to commemorate the anniversary. Former President of Venezuela, Carlos Andrés Pérez, a close friend of Peña Gómez, called out for party unity during a mass held at the Cristo Redentor Cemetery.
