Monsignor Francisco Jos? Arn?iz is regarded as the intellectual of the Catholic Church hierarchy, and sits along with President Leonel Fern?ndez and Monsignor Agripino N??ez Collado as arbiter during the ongoing talks among the nation’s three leading political parties taking place at the National Palace. Over the weekend, he criticized that the Legislative Branch has assumed an opposition role to the Executive Branch, rejecting bills that are important to the nation for political reasons. It was apparent he was referring to the Senate, whose president, Ram?n Alburquerque has been vocal saying that the Senate would not pass bills sent by the President until the political impasse regarding his party’s leadership of certain national institutions is resolved. Arn?iz, nevertheless, said he is optimistic that the talks at the National Palace will end well. He said, though, that one of the major problems is that those representing the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano and the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano do not have the authority to make decisions. The people of the PRSC have to consult with former President Balaguer, and the people of the PRD probably have to consult with the pre-candidates of the party. The talks have been suspended until next Friday, awaiting the return of President Leonel Fern?ndez from Guatemala. Sticky issues continue to be: (1) the composition of the Central Electoral Board (the JCE), opposed by the PRSC on grounds that among the judges elected by the PRD-majority Senate are PRD political activists, and by the PLD on grounds that the electoral law was violated when two former judges were removed; (2) and the election of Amable Aristy Castro to be secretary of the Dominican Municipal League.
