Political conventional wisdom suggests that if former President Fernandez chooses to run once again for President of the Dominican Republic in 2016, it is probable he would win his party’s (PLD) nomination. Furthermore, many pundits speculate that Fernandez would be the odds on favorite to win the presidency in the general election.
With this backdrop of political intrigue, the current former President Leonel Fernandez yesterday “dropped in” on President Danilo Medina at the Presidential Palace. Fernandez, who occupied the Presidential Palace for 12 years, told journalists he felt “nostalgic” over his old work place, noting that President Medina had been keeping the place looking good. Fernandez told the press that the purpose of his visit to his old stomping grounds was to inform President Medina of the interest of several about high-tech companies to invest in the Dominican Republic.
By constitutional mandate, President Medina cannot seek reelection and several high profile members of the PLD have already announced their pre-candidacy for president, including Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia, Minister of Economy Temistocles Montas and the president of the Senate Reinaldo Pared Perez.
Fernandez was received by Administrative Secretary of the Presidency, Jose Ramon Peralta, government spokesman, Roberto Rodriguez Marchena and personal assistant to the President, Medina Carlos Pared Perez.
After visiting with President Medina, Fernandez stopped by the offices his wife, former First Lady Margarita Cedeno who is the Vice President in the Medina administration. News reports say he stayed at the Vice President’s office for about 40 minutes.
Fernandez is the president of the ruling PLD political party.