President Medina meets with supporters, turns down Fernández proposal
On Monday 3 June 2019, President Danilo Medina met for lunch with the five presidential pre-candidates who are his supporters within the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). The presidential pre-candidates present were Francisco Domínguez Brito, Andrés Navarro, Reinaldo Pared Pérez, Radhamés Segura and Temístocles Montás. Also present were PLD deputies and senators who back his bid for a second re-election. Neither Leonel Fernandez nor any of his representatives were present. The meeting was held in the social club of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE).
As reported, the meeting was to discuss a proposal reportedly made by party president, former President Leonel Fernández, whereby the party echelons would pre-select all PLD legislators and mayors in key cities. The Political Parties Law enables political party leadership to pick 20% of the main elective candidates for the election. The deadline for this is 7 July 2019. Others not pre-selected would be chosen during the primaries, set for 6 October 2019.
As reported, also present at lunch were other members of the Political Committee — Francisco Javier García, Monchy Fadul, Ramón Ventura Camejo, Gonzalo Castillo, Euclides Gutiérrez and Jaime David Fernández Mirabal.
As reported in Diario Libre, spokesman for the deputies, Gustavo Sánchez said that during the meeting President Danilo Medina did not back a recent proposal made by Fernández. This scenario would be a repeat of 2015, when the party leadership backed aspirations of party senators and deputies to continue in their positions. At the time, Medina needed their vote to amend the Constitution in 2015 to enable him to run for President in 2016. Sánchez said Medina understands the candidates need to be chosen during the 6 October primary. He said President Danilo Medina has not yet announced his decision to back an amendment of the Constitution to allow him a third term.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
El Dia
Diario Libre
5 June 2019