An?bal P?ez, one of the closer collaborators of former President Joaqu?n Balaguer, told a List?n Diario reporter that he does not think the nonagenarian has plans to seek a new Presidency. P?ez said Balaguer’s health is stable, despite the cold that has affected the former statesman. Responding to the question of whether Balaguer will seek a new Presidency, P?ez said, "that will depend on how Dr. Balaguer feels, because that is a very personal, but I don’t think that Dr. Balaguer is in that frame of mind." On 2 January, several daily newspapers published a photo of President Fern?ndez during his New Year salute to the former statesman at the later’s home. While both were dressed in suits, the former President’s deteriorating physical condition was in sharp contrast to the vitality of the 45-year old Dominican statesman.
