Former Vice-President Jaime David Fernandez explained to El Caribe newspaper why neither he nor his followers have been appointed to government seats. Fernandez, who aspired to the PLD presidential candidacy in 2000 and lost out to Danilo Medina, said that the inaugural of a new President is ?like a wedding, and I am neither the one being honored, nor the groom.? He did lament that his followers were similarly excluded for the first apointments, but said that he would cooperate with President Fernandez and his cabinet from the outside. ?It?s the PLD party, our party, of course.? He voiced his expectation that things would go well and said the government will have his support.