Dr. Diego Hurtado was named director of the Dominican Society Security Institute (IDSS), replacing psychiatrist Cesar Mella. Mella is a PRD vice president.
The president of the PRD, Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas had requested the position in November 2017. At the time, Mella had responded: “Political parties cannot act as if they were an employees’ club, and much less as a society for lobbying for government appointments.”. Nevertheless, he said that more than 100 PRD members had found jobs in the IDSS in the past 15 months since his appointment.”
At the time, Administrative Minister of the Presidency, Jose Ramon Peralta had defended the request by Vargas who wanted to name someone else to the post. The press had reported that Mella had clashed with Miguel Vargas, resulting in Vargas sending a letter to President Medina requesting the replacement of Mella.
Peralta confirmed that the position was part of the political agreement that gave Vargas the option of naming to positions contemplated in the alliance of the PRD with the PLD that resulted in the changing of the 2010 Constitution to allow for Medina’s reelection.
Mella is appointed social security advisor to the President in the decree announcing his replacement.
In another change announced on 20 February 2018, President Medina appointed Agripina Ramírez to direct the Instituto de Innovación en Biotecnología e Industria (IIBI). The appointments are in Decree 83-18.
Read more in Spanish:
Presidencia
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
21 February 2018
