Political commentator Aristofanes Urbáez, writing in El Siglo newspaper, comments that the past government of Leonel Fernández suffered the effects of 700 strikes from its start. So far, the PRD government has not suffered from a single strike, despite massive firings, increases in prices of fuel, and general increases in the cost of food products. He comments that the PRD government has bought the silence of the strike leaders by giving them posts as deputy ministers or director generals in government. He wonders what will cost the nation more, this new practice, or the past government’s effort, the PEME. The PEME was a government program that sought to provide employment to persons likely to engage in strikes. News reports have shown that it developed into a bottomless barrel, and subsequently served to channel resources for political campaigning and personal profiteering.
