In a political move that has been noted by all of the press, PPH leader and current Director of the Office of Supervising Engineers of State Projects, Hernani Salazar, has been named the new senator for the province of Duarte. The incumbent, Senator Julio ?Machacho? Gonzales, resigned for alleged health reasons. Salazar received 17 votes of the 20 senators present in order to win the appointment, although some senators withdrew before the vote was taken. Enriquillo Reyes pointed out that Article 18 of the Constitution prohibits a legislator from holding any other public office. Hernani Salazar was one of the most visible promoters of Hipolito Mejia?s failed bid for re-election. As a senator, Salazar also gains immunity from legal prosecution until his term expires in 2006.
Diario Libre reports that Salazar would be sworn in as senator once he resigns from the governmental engineering office.