That the first year in government rendering took place this year on the steps of the Presidential Palace instead of at the National Congress could be a clue to the major differences within the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party. The President was introduced by his wife and three daughters, contrary to the traditional ceremony at the National Assembly when the President makes the annual presentation surrounded by the presidents of the two houses of Congress. The ruling PRM party is majority in both congressional houses.
Sociologist Melvin Mañon speculated in a radio interview with CDN Radio that the President has been left alone by the ruling political party because of differences over independence in criminal prosecution and government procurement. This year, the Procurement Agency rejected a multi-million buying procedure carried out by the Ministry of Education. The incumbent of the Ministry of Education, Roberto Fulcar, is a high-ranking government party officer.
“I think the President is on his own, tragically on his own and that solitude is atypical,” said the sociologist in an interview with Onorio Montás for “Revista Dominical Dejando Huellas” on CDN Radio.
Mañon said that this is a situation that usually occurs at the end of a Presidency and when the President cannot be reelected. President Abinader has a high popularity rating and the 2015 Constitution allows him to run for reelection.
Mañón speculates that the party leaders disagree with the agenda taken on by President Abinader. He said they disagree with the President insisting on the independence of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Attorney General and the actions taken so far by the key officials of these departments.
“I am convinced that the President has honored his word of not interfering, not dictating to, not threatening, not dismissing and in no way delivering guidelines to the public prosecutors as to what it should and should not do,” said Mañon.
On several occasions, including in the speech the President delivered on 18 August 2021 from the Presidential Palace steps, on the occasion of the first year of his administration two days before, the President eminded the people of his decision to respect the independence of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
“I am convinced, and there is no major evidence to disprove it, that he [President Abinader] is a well-intentioned guy with a pretty clear idea of what he does not want. He doesn’t want to end up anywhere near like Danilo Medina. Luis Abinader wants to come out of there respected,” said Mañon.
For the sociologist, the reason why Abinader is not receiving support of the party on this issue is that high and medium level officials have seen serious steps being taken to prosecute crime. He remarked that already leaders of the ruling party have been accused of acts of corruption that have resulted in their dismissal and disgrace,” he remarked.
Mañon says that politicians are betting behind doors that the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the President will tire of pursuing corruption and desist in this fight.
Nevertheless, Mañon remarked that Abinader was elected President not because of the strengths of the PRM. He said the win was because of the generalized discontent in the population and rejection of actions of the past administration.
In his opinion, the country is damaged by Danilo Medina’s legacy of turning crime into a socially-accepted norm. “Danilo brought the country to a point of jadedness that the issue was to get rid of him and his legacy in any way,” he says. Mañon understands Abinader needs to continue what he started. “Neither Luis Abinader nor any other politician who takes his place in the future will have the slightest possibility of partially controlling the government without pursuing corruption,” he said during the interview.
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Hoy
2 September 2021