The president of the Junta Central Electoral, Dr. César Estrella Sadhalá told the press, in response to the statement by Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez about the alleged intent of foreigners to intervene in the 1996 election, that the organization that he directs, given its legal and constitutional attributes, is the only one that is empowered to direct the May election and issue reports on its results.
“The Cardinal may rest in peace,” said Dr Estrella Sadhalá, after reiterating that the JCE will not permit any kind of interference in the present electoral process. “Nobody will be able to control the computer center, neither the U.S. Embassy, nor the Red de Observadores, nor the Church, nor anyone else,” he said.