Former President Leonel Fernandez, who polls say is the man to beat for anyone aspiring to be the presidential candidate for the ruling PLD party, is not heeding the order by the Central Electoral Board to put an end to early electoral campaigning. Fernandez is combing towns and communities around the country to warm up his followers. Ahead of the presidential election set for May 2020, polls position him as the highest ranked eligible political candidate.
As reported in El Caribe, followers of the former three-term President, maintain they have a right to proselytize to position their candidate.
Former President Fernandez said in a statement that the resolution unanimously approved by the electoral body lacks legal base.” In reality, there is no norm in effect or by laws or rules of the political parties that prohibit carrying out these actions in the pre-campaign period,” read the statement.
While Fernandez admitted he shares the concern of certain sectors of the society in regards to early political activities, he considered there is no way to enforce the order.
The resolution of the JCE requests the collaboration of the Ministry of the Interior and Police, the governorships and the city governments to impose the provision. The measure would be in effect this week.
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El Caribe
Hoy
25 June 2018
