Vice President and Education Minister Milagros Ortiz Bosch, who a recent independent poll showed outsiders felt was a better party candidate than Mej?a by far, announced her intention to oppose Mej?a in his quest for re-election. ?I do not believe that ideologies die,? she says. ?On the contrary, I believe that those who proclaim they do not have any ideologies want to retain power without?ethical commitments to society,? she told journalists upon listening to the President?s decision.
She said that re-election has created a situation that is dividing the PRD party. ?We have to have a sole strategy and that is to remain in power,? she said. She announced that she would resign from her position as education minister in June to actively campaign for the PRD presidential nomination.
Re-election is also strongly opposed by the president of the PRD, Hatuey de Camps.
The PRD primary has been tentatively set for 14 September 2003.