The strategic director for the Gonzalo Castillo presidential campaign, Francisco Javier García, says that all the negatives thrown out against Castillo have boomeranged. “The more he is attacked, the more popular he gets,” García told El Día journalists during an interview published on 16 December 2019.
Recently, muckracking journalists including Alicia Ortega, Marino Zapete and the Somos Pueblo online portal have presented evidence of irregularities in government procurement contracts when Castillo was Minister of Public Works. García gave the explanation that the Ministry of Public Works is an institution that can affect the reputation of anyone. He said there have been many past public works ministers that have gone wrong at the end of their term. Nevertheless, he argued this is more about problems of inefficiency rather than corruption.
He forecast Castillo would take the presidential election in the first round. He said his party is watchful not to commit strategic errors. He said that elections are won by one party’s hits and by taking advantage of the mistakes made by the opposition. “Already Luis and the PRM have made several errors, first by announcing alliances and second by the violent discourse,” said Garcia.
“Part of the population votes for whom is perceived to win. Our party is open to everyone,” he said. He said the PLD is on the rise. “Our party is open to everyone and we are registering lots of young people, men and women”, he said.
He defined Castillo as a new generation politician. He said voters should vote for those that they consider most competent for the position. He said Castillo is a proven entrepreneur, a self-made man, not an heir, as is his main opponent, Luis Abinader of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM).
He observed that it is in the best interest of the opposition that cabinet ministers not resign their posts. He said if they did so they would be able to dedicate 100% of their time to the campaign.
García minimized the effects of the split in the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) during the interview at El Dia published on 16 December 2019. He said only 7% of party members resigned from the party to join President Leonel Fernández and The People’s Force (La Fuerza del Pueblo – Partido de los Trabajadores Dominicanos).
“Leonel is no longer on the radar of the PLD. If he’s doing well, well, and if he’s doing badly, too. He has left with the old party, the new party is the PLD,” he said.
García was the campaign manager for former President Leonel Fernandez and participated in the campaign for President Danilo Medina.
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El Dia
El Dia
17 December 2019