Mark Penn and Centro Economico del Cibao polls are showing the effect of the aggressive campaigning carried out by former Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo during the coronavirus pandemic. Videos have shown Castillo activists hard at work in the evenings, during the curfew period with the police no where to be seen. Vice President Margarita Cedeño, who is running for vice president on the PLD ticket, manages the relief programs of the government. It is yet to be seen if the Chamber of Deputies will pass another extension of the National State of Emergency.
The lockdown and curfew have affected campaigning, and ruling party candidate Castillo has worked the state of emergency to his advantage. Government procurement has been in the billions. Meanwhile, millions in government procurement for the emergency have had to be canceled after investigative journalists pinpoint the irregularities.
President Danilo Medina has submitted to the PLD-majority Senate the request for another 25 days of the National State of Emergency. It is expected to be approved on Thursday and then move on to the Chamber of Deputies.
The government argues the curfew, now in place from 7pm to 5am, needs to continue. The opposition says measures can be instated without the state of emergency. Shortly before the pandemic, hundreds of thousands had gathered at the Plaza de la Bandera to call for fair elections and an end to corruption in government.
The opposition says the Executive Branch has not been transparent in the management of government procurement for the health crisis. Yet Elias Baez (PRM), an opposition deputy expressed his concern the government could blame the opposition if the epidemic gets out of control.
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Listin Diario
Listin Diario
28 May 2020