Former President Hipolito Mejia has denied he agreed that Miguel Vargas Maldonado would be the PRD presidential candidate in 2016 and his own daughter, Carolina, the vice presidential candidate. He said that their recent meeting was aimed at breaking the ice between the two rival party leaders, not reach a pre-agreement or an agreement. Mejia says that Miguel Vargas needs to earn the candidacy. Mejia says that Vargas’ presidency of the party expires on 19 July and new party leaders need to be elected.