Over the weekend, it was difficult to listen to the radio without having to hear a Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) pre-candidate Gonzalo Castillo campaign spot. With the 6 October primary date nearing, the former Public Works Minister intensified propaganda and his campaigning.
In Diario Libre on Monday, 2 September, Castillo tells why he is the best man to guarantee the continuing of the Danilo Medina administration. He says he will consolidate this and bring to it his vision as a new school politician and man of the 21st Century. He says he is a man of action. “The people prefer me, that is why I am an electoral phenomenon,” Castillo said during the interview. He promised to focus on youths and technology, and to double the “surprise visits” program of President Medina.
Meanwhile, the president of the Senate and secretary general of the PLD, Reinaldo Pared Pérez announced he would no longer run for President. Pared Pérez says he will continue to back the party of which he has been a member for 44 years. He said the conditions have varied and the campaigning has become one-sided in favor of one candidate [Gonzalo Castillo]. He said a part of the government is making unfair the pre-primary campaign. He observed the last minute participation of a new player who he says has for a year been preparing his political project using one of the most important ministries of the state as launching platform.
Already, former Minister of Education Carlos Amarante Baret had protested Castillo is using his influence in the Ministry of Public Works to secure the favor of city governments. While President Medina had promptly appointed replacements when Amarante (Interior & Police), Francisco Domínguez Brito (Environment), and Andrés Navarro (Education) resigned from their ministries, Medina has not named a replacement at the Ministry of Public Works. Of the group of six that originally sought the favor of President Medina, only Navarro, Domínguez Brito, Temístocles Montas (a former Minister of Economy and Industry & Commerce) and Radhames Segura (former vice president of the Public Electricity Corporation, CDEEE, remain in the race for the Presidency.
Over the weekend, Andrés Navarro offered the vice presidency of his candidacy to both Gonzalo Castillo and Domínguez Brito.
Hoy
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
2 September 2019