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Insights into actions taken to name a new mayor for La Vega

Kelvin Cruz / Listin Diario

President Luis Abinader has been flying the flag that democracy is what is most important when defending his Constitutional Reform proposals. But just what was he thinking when he pulled recently sworn in mayor of La Vega, Kelvin Cruz, to be his Minister of Sports. Cruz’s Vice Mayor, Amparo Custodio also resigned alleging ruling PRM power plays.

Carlos Osi Perez, writing for N Digital, says there is “a significant internal crisis in the PRM” and much power playing going on as strings are being pulled to decide who gets the mayor position.

The explanation is that the deadlock centers around a power struggle between two prominent PRM leaders in La Vega: former mayor and current Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz, and Agustín Burgos, a three-time deputy and provincial president of the party.

N Digital explains that the tension escalated when Cruz maneuvered to have his protégé, Denny Holguín, the operational director of the La Vega municipality, appointed as his successor. Holguín, who also serves as the municipal president of the PRM in La Vega, lacks broad support from both the political leadership and the local community.

Furthermore, as reported, Cruz’s maneuvering is problematic as Holguín is perceived as a potential “puppet” of the Sports Minister. Meanwhile, Burgos represents a more widely respected leadership within the PRM and is favored by the local populace. This has led to resistance from Burgos’s camp against the notion of Cruz maintaining control over both the Sports Ministry and the mayor’s office through Holguín.

N Digital speculates that a possible compromise under consideration is former mayor Fausto Ruiz. Although Ruiz is well-regarded in La Vega, he has longstanding disputes with Cruz dating back to his tenure as a city councilor. But the reporter says it is unlikely that a new mayor can be elected in La Vega without Cruz’s approval, given his significant electoral victories. However, sidelining or marginalizing Burgos’s faction could trigger a serious crisis within the PRM-La Vega chapter.

The Salomonic solution could be to leave Joel Martinez in the position. Joel Martinez was Cruz’s choice for secretary general. He is described as a technical person and at present time is the acting mayor. N Digital report says that Martinez is regarded as a neutral candidate and his noted for his technical expertise and political neutrality.

N Digital also mentions some call for naming Juan Manuel Mendez, the long-time director of the Center for Emergency Operations.

The PRM has appointed a committee to address the issue, led by party Vice President Eddy Olivares and including Antoliano Peralta Romero, Legal Advisor to the Executive Branch, and Víctor D’ Aza, Secretary-General of the Dominican Municipal League. The outgoing mayor, now Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz, will also offer guidance.

Olivares indicated to N Digital that the committee will soon convene to seek an institutional and timely resolution. The committee’s role is to recommend a shortlist of candidates to President Luis Abinader, who will then present the selection to the La Vega City Council for approval. So much for respecting democracy and people’s vote.

Stay tuned.

Read more in Spanish:
N Digital

28 August 2024