The three leading political parties and the government announced several agreements had been reached during the eighth round of talks at the National Palace. These include the decision to expand to seven the members of the board of the Junta Central Electoral (JCE), the body that organizes the national elections, and the appointment of a commission that will manage the Dominican Municipal League and distribute funds until the judiciary issues a judgment. The announcement was made at 1:15 am by Monsignor Agripino N??ez, spokesman for the politicians. The three leading political parties, the ruling Partido de la Liberaci?n Dominicana (PLD), the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD), and the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano (PRSC) had been meeting since 4 pm. The two new members of the JCE and substitutes will be proposed by the PRSC and the PLD and appointed by the Senate. The PRSC had complained that the Senate had unilaterally appointed the JCE board, and that several appointed members were PRD militants. The decision is a step down from the non-politicized board of the 1996 and 1998 elections, but it is a step forward to resolving political impasses so that institutions can move on to work for the nation’s benefit. The politicians chose Monsignor Francisco Jos? Arnaiz, Senator Andr?s Bautista (PRD-Espaillat) and Reverend Braulio Portes to supervise the distribution of funds by the Dominican Municipal League to the municipalities while the judiciary resolves the validity of the past electoral process at the organization. Prior to the eighth round, President Leonel Fern?ndez visited former President Joaqu?n Balaguer at his home yesterday. They met for about 40 minutes to discuss issues related to the agreements. President Leonel Fern?ndez was recognized by Monsignor Agripino N??ez and the president of the PRD, Enmanuel Esquea Guerrero as the decisive factor behind the reaching of agreements. Monsignor N??ez Collado said that other points on the agenda, such as the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies, the make up of the Chamber of Accounts, democratic stability, constitutional, economic and social reforms will be studied in upcoming work sessions.
