Economist Celso Marranzini told Hoy newspaper that the political crises in general, and that of the ruling PRD in particular, only serve to harm Dominican exporters’ credit facilities. He cited the recent analysis by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which recommended no further loans to the government because the funds could be diverted for political campaigning. Marranzini said the political disputes “sent worrying signals” abroad, and that the country’s international image was affected by it. He also said that government officials were perceived to be spending more time on electioneering activities than on solving the country’s economic dilemmas. David Alvarez Martin, writing in El Caribe, says that the PRD crisis can only serve to bolster the opposition challenger, the PLD, and support for its candidate, Leonel Fernandez. “Let’s work towards this being the last “white” Christmas we have to live through (a reference to the PRD’s party color), so that we can grow economically and live in a just state,” said Fernandez.