A telephone call on Wednesday, 10 July 2019, from United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to President Danilo Medina was the lead story for the weekend. Comments and reactions from most political sectors were not long in coming, with PLD loyalists crying “foul” and saying that the US is intervening in Dominican affairs.
The United States Embassy posted on the US Secretary Pompeo’s call on their website, in a note that is attributed to spokesperson Morgan Ortagus:
“Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke yesterday with Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina. The two discussed the importance of all political actors in the Dominican Republic preserving democratic institutions, and adherence to rule of law and the constitution, particularly in the lead-up to the 2020 elections in the Dominican Republic.”
The call from Pompeo came at a time when government officials and legislators who side with Medina are pushing for a constitutional reform that would allow Medina to run for a third term. The moves by the Medina followers have created a confrontation primarily between Medina and former President Leonel Fernandez, who happens to be the president of the ruling political party, but who has not adhered to the party line set by the majority. Medina is said to control the vote in the party’s Political Committee and Central Committee.
Medina said via a press communiqué that the “US Secretary of State can be sure that whatever my decision is (regarding the reelection) the process will be undertaken following the Constitution and the laws.”
The Twitter account of government spokesman Roberto Rodriguez Marchena (@RodrigMarchena) said that the conversation was friendly and that Pompeo praised the Dominican government for its good work and Medina’s dedication to the prosperity and welfare of the Dominican people.
The US Secretary of State remark comes at a time when US President Donald Trump recently tweeted on whether he should stay longer on the job once his second term is over.
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Listin Diario
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
El Nacional
US Embassy
Truth Out
Donald Trump Twitter
Presidencia RD
15 July 2019