On the eve of the primary election for the PRSC, the candidates are at level pegging in the polls. Jacinto Peynado, backed by former candidate hopefuls Federico Ant?n Batlle and Carlos Morales Troncoso, will face Eduardo Estrella, who is backed by former candidacy hopeful Jos? Hazim, in the bid for the presidential PRSC candidacy ? the first such inter-party contest since the death last year of long-time party leader and former President, Joaqu?n Balaguer. In its back-page commentary column, Diario Libre describes the campaign as characteristically confrontational, with the candidates publicly airing their dirty laundry. The commentary sums it up by saying ?with friends like this in your own party, who needs electoral adversaries??
In an opinion piece and a full-page interview in the List?n Diario, Peynado pledges to unite the party, and in the Diario Libre Estrella says that harmony within the party is his first priority.
In an unprecedented move, the government has ordered all soldiers confined to their barracks on Sunday to prevent them from voting in the primary elections. It is believed that many members of the armed forces are PRSC supporters, but the Constitution excludes them from participation in politics. Political analysts wondered if the government will do the same when the PLD and the PRD hold their primaries.
The newspapers are estimating the cost of the primary campaigns at as much as RD$200 million. Diario Libre reports that 19,000 people will be involved in administering the voting procedures, which are to take place on Sunday 30 March.
The PRSC is ranked second in recent voter popularity polls after the PLD.