The leadership of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) on Monday, 3 February 2020 called for the resignation of all candidates on the ballot for Hugo Beras to support the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) National District mayor candidate, Domingo Contreras. The recommendation follows the resignation of Hugo Beras from his candidacy for mayor for the capital city.
As reported in Listin Diario, the resignation created internal unrest in the PRD. There are only 12 days before the municipal election on 16 February 2020. The decision would be formally announced on Tuesday, 4 February.
Listin Diario’s source says that an urgent meeting was called by the PRD on Monday, with the participation of Miguel Vargas, Peggy Cabral, Rafael (Fiquito) Vásquez, Janet Camilo, Víctor Gómez Casanova and Dennise Cabral, who is running for deputy mayor, and the 37 city councilors on the municipal ballot for the PRD. After the meeting, it was announced the PRD would not participate in the National District election with its candidates.
Article 146 of Electoral Regime Law 15-19 establishes: Once a candidacy is admitted, it may not be withdrawn or rectified by the party or grouping that submitted it, except if one or more of the candidates included therein resigns, dies, becomes incapacitated or is declined. In these cases, the new proposal may be made by the corresponding governing body of the party or grouping that supports the proposal, and the Central Electoral Board or the corresponding electoral board shall take cognizance of it in a summary manner and without recourse.”
The same article establishes that in the case of resignation, disqualification or rejection of one or more candidates occurs when it is no longer possible to print on the ballots the names of the candidates appointed to replace these, the votes cast for this candidate shall be counted in favor of the new candidates proposed by the corresponding party.
Temístocles Montás, of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) corroborated that the city councilors running for the PRD will now back the PLD candidates. He said a press conference would be held at 10am on Tuesday, 4 February to explain the situation and the next moves.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
4 February 2020