Notwithstanding what has appeared in the national press, a hitherto reliable and professional political observer told The NEWS that things are not what they appear to be. Rather than being a matter of a difference between Monsignor Agripino Núñez Collado and his chief, Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, the observer feels that it was Monsignor Núñez Collado who brought the matter to the attention of the Cardinal. He was seeking a way out from under the pressures exerted by U.S. officials on the way certain aspects of the program were being developed. The source indicated that cuts have already been made in the program’s funding for its failure to comply with the wishes of U.S. government officials.
Regarding the possibility of having an unofficial but parallel count of the votes by the Red de Observadores, he said this is nothing new. There has been a project to operate a separate computer center, U.S. style, based on exit polling, for years. This process would provide unofficial results in two or three hours, as in many other countries around the world. The Dominican system for counting votes is considered slow by many standards.
Moreover, the observer indicated that it should be noted that among the leaders of the Participación Ciudadana group that directs the Red de Observadores there are many former PRD people, or others that have participated in a PRD government, and some from the PLD as well. There are none, however, from the PRSC, which was considered a tactical mistake by Participación Ciudadana as it does not auger well for their alleged political impartiality.
The commentator believes that the U.S. government’s favorite candidates are José Francisco Peña Gómez and Leonel Fernández because they would be more compliant. Both President Balaguer and the PRSC presidential candidate, Jacinto Peynado, have had differences in the past with the U.S. government. Jacinto Peynado has gone so far as to state that if he is elected President he will re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. While Dr Balaguer has managed the situation wisely so that neither side loses face and good relations between the two countries are maintained, he has constantly emphasized that the United States should respect the sovereignty of the Dominican Republic.
In his most recent speech on 27 February, President Balaguer again requested foreign nations to desist from interfering in Dominican affairs.