After Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) National District candidate Carolina Mejía and National District Mayor David Collado were no-shows at the Sunday pro-democracy march head by the PRM and the People’s Force political parties, Johnny Ventura wants to know why. Johnny Ventura is the same legendary merengue singer who is now running for mayor on the People’s Force ticket.
“We, the political stakeholders, need to be responsible and to act with transparency and serve the country when it needs us most,” he said. He added: This is not a time for collusion with those who want to steal the democracy of the Dominican Republic.”
Ventura said that the lack of commitment to the people and the lack of identification with the struggle for democracy on behalf of Carolina Mejía and her father, former President Hipólito Mejía, as well as her political godfather David Collado, make it clear that the candidate for mayor of the National District for the PRM has an agreement with the government and President Danilo Medina.
Ventura stated: “Carolina Mejía showed on Sunday that she does not have the slightest interest in the struggle the Dominican society is waging for respect for democracy, the strengthening of the party system and that her aspirations are not those of the people. On the contrary, she appears to be more committed to the causes of President Danilo Medina than to her own party, the PRM.”
El Nuevo Diario had reported that the absence could be related to the distance the mayoral candidate and her father, former President Hipólito Mejía, have kept with former President Fernández. When the PRM announced the alliance with Fernández followers for certain congressional and municipal positions, Carolina Mejía issued a dissident statement expressing her opposition but accepting the party position. Her father has been known to back President Danilo Medina on several issues.
Earlier, Alianza Pais had stated it would not participate in the protest march. Guillermo Moreno, president of Alianza Pais, has asked for the resignation of the judges of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and has been a strong critic of former President Leonel Fernández. Fernández had been president of the ruling political party until he split from the party after claiming fraud in the 6 October 2020 primary that was organized using the same automated voting machines installed for the failed municipal election.
In a statement on Monday afternoon, 24 February, Carolina Mejía said she had other commitments. She said the setting of the date for the march was a last-minute decision, and she had already made a commitment.
City mayor David Collado urged an exhaustive investigation be carried out to find out the reasons for the collapse of the municipal elections. But he had no comments on why he didn’t participate in the PRM march. “I am concentrating on my job, only that.” He says he wants to finish his city government program for when he turns in government on 24 April 2020.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
El Nuevo Diario
25 February 2020