More members of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) have announced their resignation from the party, following the resignation of former President Leonel Fernández on Sunday 20 October 2019. Political analysts say 25% of the party members could leave to back Fernández.
Central Committee member and president of the Permanent Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Political Parties (Coppal), Manolo Pichardo has resigned, due to what he called the departure from the original ideas and values that were in place when the party was created.
Other members of the PLD Political Committee that have resigned to join Fernández in the proposed La Fuerza del Pueblo new party are former Vice President Rafael Alburquerque;, Minister Without Portfolio Bautista Rojas Gomez; former attorney general Radhamés Jiménez, former Interior & Police Minister Franklin Almeyda Rancier and former public health minister Bautista Rojas Gomez.
Other resignations from the PLD in less than a week are Gustavo Rojas Lara, Joaquín Gerónimo Berroa, Henry Merán, Demóstenes Martínez and Freddy Pérez. Also senators Manuel Güichardo (Valverde) and Prim Pujals Nolasco (Samaná).
Deputies that have resigned from the PLD to follow Fernández are:
Rubén Maldonado, Carlos Guzmán, Adalgisa Fátima Pujols (Santo Domingo province), Juan Carlos Quiñones (Puerto Plata), Juan Comprés (Duarte); José Luis Cosme (Maria Trinidad Sánchez); Demóstenes Martínez (Santiago), Orlando Espinosa (San Cristóbal); Marcos Cross (representing Spain) and Levin Suriel (representing the USA).
A report in Listin Diario highlights how the resignation of Fernández and announcement he is leaving to form another political party changes the composition of forces in Congress. This will affect important bills, such as the National Budget, that are pending for approval this year. There are 222 legislators, of which 32 are senators (31 provinces and the National District) and 190 deputies (178 for provinces and the National District, five national deputies and 7 overseas deputies).
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
El Dia
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
22 October 2019