President Danilo Medina cannot run for election in 2016, but a constitutional change pushed through in 2010 makes it possible for President Leonel Fernandez to be the next Dominican President. His long time aide, rags-to-riches senator Felix Bautista does not want to lose any time in promoting the candidacy, especially since polls show aspirant Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia riding high. Yesterday, Sunday 24 November Bautista announced that 35,000 supporters would be mobilized nationwide to promote the Leonel Fernandez pre-candidacy. Last week Senator Jose Rafael Vargas also announced he would campaign for the former President. Fernandez will join ministers of Economy Temistocles Montas and Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia who are aggressively pursuing their pre-candidacies for the ruling PLD party.
El Caribe reports that the announcement was made after the celebration of the PLD’s General Assembly of Delegates at the Volleyball Pavilion in the Juan Pablo Duarte Sports Center in Santo Domingo. The Assembly of 1,758 delegates approved 13 of 15 proposals and is preparing for the 8th PLD Congress in January 2014. During the assembly, the number of seats on the influential political committee was increased from 25 to 33, and the members of the Central Committee were increased from 400 to 602.
Former President Leonel Fernandez praised the organization of the event.
www.elcaribe.com.do/2013/11/25/bautista-afirma-activan-35-mil-militantes-para-promover-leonel