Jacinto Peynado, who many had thought would be the heir to the PRSC legacy of the late President Joaquin Balaguer, is back in the limelight. After an eight-month convalescence in Miami, Florida and two surgeries, Peynado said he has recovered his normal lifestyle and is now speaking to the press. During one such interview with El Caribe’s Alicia Ortega, the former Vice-President did not reveal what ailment he suffers from, but confirmed he had lost 74 pounds and said his intention is to keep the weight off because “I gave away my clothes.” Promising to return to the DR well in advance of the 2004 presidential election, he said, “I believe that by February, and no later than March, I should be there.” Peynado told the journalist he did not plan to run for President in the 2004 campaign. When asked if the Ley de Lemas were not to go through, would he support PRSC presidential candidate Eduardo Estrella, he replied: “Over my dead body. I said the other day that I would never support that candidacy because it is the result of fraud.” When asked who he would support, Peynado told the reporter: “The person who best represents what I understand has to be done in the Dominican Republic and who convinces me of what he is going to do.”