Current Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia has announced the start of his campaign to seek the PLD candidature for the presidential election in 2016. The 2010 Constitution bans President Danilo Medina from seeking re-election. The man to beat in the party for the candidacy is former President Leonel Fernandez. Fernandez’s wife, Vice President Margarita Cedeno aspired to the PLD presidential candidacy into the 2012 presidential campaign. Minister of Economy Temistocles Montas has also announced his aspirations to the ruling party candidacy.
Garcia said that he had spoken with party president Leonel Fernandez, President Danilo Medina and with the general secretary of the PLD, Reinaldo Pared Perez prior to launching his candidacy.
He said that he had also consulted nationally and overseas to see if he would have support and said that the results were both surprising and satisfactory.
He went on to say that his campaign would not be based on criticizing Fernandez or Medina but on his own merits, and that he was convinced he would receive support from the voters.
Garcia has served as the PLD’s presidential campaign director and has five wins under his belt. He was campaign director for former President Leonel Fernandez for the 2004-2008 and 2008-2012 terms and for President Medina’s 2012-2016 campaign. He has also successfully directed two electoral campaigns for the congressional elections.
“I begin to climb a great mountain. An important event in my life. And as it says in Ecclesiastes: ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens’. That is why I am saying: It is my turn and my time,” he said.
Garcia is a member of the PLD political and central committees. He has held several government posts including the administrator of the National Lottery, minister of Industry and Commerce, administrator of the Dominican Petroleum Refinery, member of the Center for Export and Investment in the Dominican Republic, member of the National Competiveness Council, the Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce and Production, the National Development Board, the Biotechnological Research Institute and the Agricultural Affairs Commission.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2013/8/29/290085/Francisco-Javier-se-lanza-por-candidatura-a-la-presidencia