A day after winning the PRD presidential candidacy, Hipólito Mejía visited former President Joaquín Balaguer at his home. Commenting on the meeting, Hipólito Mejía told Hoy newspaper that it was a "very interesting and harmonious visit". He said that Balaguer’s lucidness left him perplexed. Balaguer will be 93 this year. He further described the former statesman as "very pleasant." "I am learning many things from him" said Mejía. He said he visited Balaguer because he had promised to do so when he was elected presidential candidate so he could speak from presidential candidate to presidential candidate. Balaguer is expected to be the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano presidential candidate in the 2000 election. While it is highly unlikely he will win the election, whomever he endorses in the second round has a good chance at winning. Both the PLD and the PRD are expected to seek Balaguer’s support. Balaguer’s support of the PLD in the 1996 election resulted in their reaching power.
