List?n Diario reports today on the internal conflict within the PRSC that has followed since the controversial election of former Santiago senator and minister of public works, Eduardo Estrella, as the presidential candidate for the party. Estrella beat out former Vice President Jacinto Peynado, who maintains that Estrella won by fraud in cahoots with the PPH faction of the PRD that supports the reelection of President Mej?a. Mej?a himself admitted publicly that Estrella had the support of the PPH.
The internal conflict is surfacing now as the Chamber of Deputies election of president is due. The Chamber of Deputies has been presided over by Rafaela Alburquerque (PRSC-San Pedro de Macor?s) for the past six years. Alburquerque has been reelected with the support of President Mej?a, whose bills she has faithfully backed in Congress. The president of the Chamber controls the agenda discussed by the deputies. Alburquerque had said she would not seek a fourth term in the Chamber, thus opening the doors to the aspirations of Licelott Marte de Barrios and Victor Bisono, also of the PRSC, to seek the presidency. With Alburquerque having decided to run again, she continues to receive the support of those PRD deputies who remain loyal to President Mejia.
Orlando Gil, in his political commentary column in the List?n Diario, explained that President Mej?a would like to continue to work with Alburquerque, as she has been his supporter in Congress since his administration came to power.
None of the three leading political parties has the number of votes necessary to win the seat without the support of another. The PRD has 72 deputies, the PLD 42 and the PRSC 35. To win, 76 votes would be necessary.
Gil also speculates that the PLD deputies could vote for Alfredo Pacheco of the PRD, who is not a member of Mej?a?s PPH camp.
Meanwhile, Federico (Quique) Ant?n Batlle called for a revision Estrella?s candidacy, given what he calls the collapse of the party positioning following the primary. Ant?n says that prior to the primary, the PRSC had the favor of almost 30% of the electorate, a figure which has since deflated to 12%. He attributed the loss of popularity of the PRSC to ?the choice of a party faction to maintain a candidacy of individuals that are not attractive to the Dominican people.?