The group differences within the ruling PLD political party have resulted in the party losing two of the leading politicized elective positions that control unionized guilds. These are the Dominican Medical Association that in November 2017 went to Dr. Wilson Roa, who had the support of the opposition PRM party. And that of Xiomara Guante, also of the PRM, who defeated the PLD candidate, Eduardo Hidalgo for the presidency of the Public School Teachers Association.
Political analyst Henry Blanco believes the PLD is falling victim to a “divide and lose” strategy. He told Diario Libre reporter Tania Molina that the internal divide between PLD members that favor the faction of President Danilo Medina and those that favor former President Leonel Fernandez is what has made the difference in the recent union elections. Nevertheless, as has occurred in the past, he believes that into the 2020 electoral year, the various PLD factions will eventually reach a consensus and become unified. He discarded the notion that the people voting for the PRM are doing so because they see this as a guarantee for change.
Social media has also had a run at how the PLD divide and practices have lost favor with many in Dominican society and how this is evidenced by the loss of the ADP presidency.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
16 October 2018
