In a surprise move, President-elect Hipolito Mejia announced he will name his vice-president, Milagros Ortiz Bosch, to the post of Education & Culture Minister. Though unusual, no constitutional provision proscribes a sitting vice president from discharging another salaried administrative function. Joaquin Balaguer’s Vice President, Carlos Morales Troncoso, served as Dominican ambassador in Washington and also headed the State Sugar Council. Incumbent Vice-President Jaime David Fernandez has headed various commissions in the environmental sector.Reportedly most other cabinet appointments will go to long time PRD stalwarts. Hugo Tolentino Dipp will become Minister of Foreign Affairs; Eligio Jaquez who headed Mejia’s successful presidential campaign will become Minister of Agriculture; Jose Rodriguez Soldevilla will take the Public Health portfolio; Cesar Cedeño will become Minister for Sports, Recreation & Physical Education; Frank Guerrero Prats will take the post of Finance Minister; and Milton Ray Guevara will become Attorney General in the government Mejia will head starting August 16. Others selected from among the PRD’s inner circle are Miguel Vasquez, who will direct the National Lottery, and Cesar Sanchez, who will head the Dominican Electric Corporation.Mejia’s staff appointments include two members of Mejia’s own family. His brother-in-law, Sergio Grullon Estrella has been selected as Technical Secretary to the President, and his sister, Chabela Mejia, will chair the National Council on Youth. Mejia noted that before giving his sister the nod, he offered the post to his wife, Rosa who, according to the president-elect, turned it down.
