The Senate, under the absolute control of the opposition PRD party, refused last night to approve legislative initiatives that were sent down by the Executive Branch. The rebellion is to last until the rules of governance are defined and respect for the laws and President Fernandez recognizes the principle of continuity in government. The Senate requested a meeting with the chief executive. The spark that set off the rebellion of the senators was a picket line set up by hundreds of small rural farmers from Hato Mayor and Monte Cristi who protested the government’s review of the manner in which small parcels of land were distributed during the Mejia administration. Coincidentally, the Senate’s negative attitude comes just hours after former President Mejia called for a hardening of opposition to the PLD government. The senators violated the promise that they had made to the government headed by Leonel Fernandez and did not pass the Free Trade Agreement with the United States, nor the renegotiation of the 2001-2003 bond issues, nor any other legislation requested by the Executive Branch.