The Follow-up Commission for the Election Ethics Pact charged that the Central Elections Board (JCE) is fostering the impression that next month’s presidential election is "a carnival." The accusation was one of several included in the commission’s "second monitoring report," released yesterday. Harsh words were heaped on all the political parties for desecrating trees, traffic signals, private and government buildings, and neighborhoods with political propaganda. Nor was the government spared the commission’s scorn. It was accused of deploying public resources in support of the ruling party’s candidate, Danilo Medina. Criticism of the role of the JCE centered on the ads it has placed on TV, in newspapers, and on billboards saying, in effect, that the act of voting is more important that the choice of a candidate. This, according to the commission report, exemplifies "a campaign based on the idea that people should vote without pausing to reflect on the ideas and proposals of the candidates. Minor political parties – PRI and PNA – were condemned along with PRD, PLD, PRSC for obscuring traffic signals and road signs with placards, for placing party propaganda inside government offices, and slathering paint over living trees. Each party is identified by its own color, and during election season, lamp posts, curbsides, walls and trees are treated to haphazard pastel coats. In support of its charges against the government, the commission cited the speech delivered by President Leonel Fernandez in Santiago’s Great Cibao Theater on March 30th in commemoration of a 19th century battle in the struggle against Haiti. The president spoke beneath "an enormous photo" of his party’s candidate. More over, PLD vice-presidential candidate, Amilcar Romero – on leave from his post as Agriculture Minister – has continued to participate in Agriculture Ministry functions. The PLD party was also accused of manifesting a lack of respect for the PRD’s candidate, Hipolito Mejia. In PLD marches and gatherings, Mejia has been depicted in touched-up photos with grass protruding from his mouth, the idea being to depict a man with "emotional problems," which makes him look "like Cantinflas," stated the report. Mejia accuses Fernandez with negotiating illegal loans; mollifies cardinal Presidential candidate Hipolito Mejia, has to claimed to have documents showing that President Leonel Fernandez has secretly negotiated more than DR$1 billion in loans from five local banks. He also alleged that Fernandez will leave the government with debts of DR$30 million when he leaves office in August. Senate president Ramon Albuquerque – like Mejia, from the PRD party – stated that he believes the sums to be even greater than those alleged by Mejia and immediately ordered an investigation by the senate’s finance committee to "to begin to establish constitutional responsibility." Mejia stated that the situation is "troubling" because Fernandez is taking illegal loans "at 27% interest, excluding closing costs and other charges," without seeking congressional approval. The local banks named by the PRD standard-bearer are; Fiduciario, Popular, Intercontinental, Reservas and First National. The large sums of money are supposedly needed to fund the government’s extensive road and highway projects, now nearing completion, he said, even though contractors continue to complain that they are not being paid. Mejia also denied that he and Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez were at odds over whether or not use both old and new voter identification cards in next month’s elections. Mejia opposes the use of the old cards concurrently, while the Cardinal recently spoke in favor of the measure. "I received the Cardinal’s observations with respect and satisfaction," he said, "even though I don’t share them." Mejia told reporters that "we are great and inalienable friends." This is "the first time in my life that I dissent from His Eminence," he said.
