Political commentators have had a field day speculating that internal rifts in the PLD have increased between the pragmatists and those that adhere to the guidelines set by party founder, Juan Bosch. The rifts date back to the choosing of former Secretary of the Presidency, Danilo Medina as presidential candidate by the pragmatists, regardless that polls showed then Vice President Jaime David Fernández was a more marketable candidate. Speculation revolves around statements made by PLD party secretary general José Tomás Pérez that the PRD was focusing on second and third level PLD officers, and not on former government officers who had become filthy rich after their term in government. These were being left untouched because of their ties to the PRD. Attorney General Virgilio Bello de la Rosa asked Pérez to come forth with the information with names on the "super-rich." Rafael Núñéz, a close aide of former President Leonel Fernández accused Pérez of being "irresponsible and an accomplice" for making the announcement but not stating names. Núñez says that if Pérez does not present the proof that supports his accusation, he should resign his post in the PLD. Fernández in his last speech in office, defended his government officers, rejecting accusations of corruption in office. Fernández is considered the strongest political candidate of any party for the 2004 presidential election at this time. Pérez, responded that he is not the first to mention where corruption in the Fernández administration lay. "If he (Attorney General) wants information, then he should visit all who have talked about the subject. Now, we cannot make the error of directly or personally accusing anyone," said Pérez. He said he made the comment because there is an attempt to bring the whole party down with the corruption accusations. "My duty is to protect the image of this party [PLD] because this party will not go down because two or three people are being accused of corruption," he said. "He who did wrong things should pay, the party cannot pay for the faults of some." Meanwhile, the Attorney General has not formalized any complaint against former government officers yet. The PRD majority Senate did pass a bill that would create the Fiscalía Nacional Anti-Corrupción. In the DR it is customary for corruption talks to rev up at the start of a new government.
