Former President Leonel Fernández had sought to be the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) candidate in the presidential elections this year. But President Danilo Medina instead backed his then Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo and Fernández split from the party and is now seeking the Presidency for the People’s Force (FP). Now, with less than a month before the 5 July election, Fernández is using his excellence in public speaking to try to pry votes from Castillo and be the man to battle it out with Luis Abinader of the Modern Revolutionary Party in a second round. A second round of the vote is needed is none of the candidates wins 50%+1 of the vote on 5 July. The second round is scheduled for 26 July.
Over the weekend, Fernández criticized that the government has tried to impose upon the people a candidate that is not capable of communicating with the people. Ironically, Castillo would become known because of his outstanding bloopers in public speaking. This strongly contrasts with Fernández, known as one of the best public speakers in the country. Fernandez criticized that the government has spent RD$100 billion in the past three months to position Castillo.
“We are hurt, we are upset, we are angered that they are using the resources of the people in such an acute and severe crisis situation as the one we are suffering, for a political, electoral purpose, which in no way serves the future of the Dominican Republic,” declared the former President.
Castillo declined participating in the ANJE debate and has limited his public appearances to forums where he can read a document or previously taped messages to get around his limitations in public speaking. Castillo has argued he is running for President to be a doer, not a speaker.
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Diario Libre
UNITV10
8 June 2020