Rafael Abinader (PRD-Santiago) and Ramon Alburquerque (PRD-Monte Plata) are disputing the presidency of the Senate. The post is important because the president of the Senate has the most say in setting the agenda of the sessions. At the same time that this tirade is going on, there is the internal conflict within the PRD due to the buying-time solution implemented by Jose Francisco Peña Gomez for the congressional and municipal election in 1998. At the time, Peña Gómez pleased those not assigned congressional and municipal posts by splitting the duration of the elected candidates. He determined that the elected posts would be shared. The incumbents would go for two years, and then resign their posts to let others complete the period. The new discussions affect about 100 positions and threaten to divide the absolute majority of the PRD in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Several of those that were substitutes have said they are willing to accept more attractive jobs in the PRD government. Following the 1998 congressional election, the PRD lost congressional votes, when 11 PRD-ticket elected deputies became PRD-dissidents, allying with the PRSC and the PLD on different congressional matters. Political analysts say this could happen again.
