With three years to go before the 2016 presidential, congressional and municipal elections, the pre-candidates in the ruling PLD party are active. According to the 2010 Constitution, the incumbent, President Danilo Medina cannot run for President. Diario Libre reports today, Monday September 30 that with many PLD politicians revving up their campaigns to seek the party nomination, President Leonel Fernandez himself is more active in the media seeking to keep his space. The PLD party president, Fernandez is considered the leading contender to be named as the party’s presidential candidate. After keeping a low profile during President Medina’s first year in office, Fernandez is now making frequent appearances at public events and making statements on a range of topics. Diario Libre reports that the President was in Puerto Plata on Saturday, 28 September where he gave a very emotional speech and confessed that he was just warming up, and that the “lion was watching.” The former President is known as “lion” for his name, Leonel.
Politicians who have announced their aspirations include Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia and the Minister of Economy, Planning and Development Temistocles Montas.
Political scientist Rafael Toribio told Diario Libre that the recent appearances are because Fernandez is marking his territory now that others have launched their campaigns. Says Toribio: “Leonel is definitely in the ring. It is a way of his saying to those who have launched their candidacies and those who are preparing to do so that he will willing to compete and give it a fight, even those who may be thinking of finding a way round for Danilo to be re-elected.”
www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2013/09/30/i404393_leonel-activa-sus-recorridos-advierte-que-lean-esta-observando-pld.html