Political analyst Orlando Gil of the List?n Diario writes
of the internal conflicts of the PRSC and the rifts that have caused its loss of
strength. No longer being courted as the deciding force in Dominican politics
between the PLD and the PRD, the party is struggling to quell the friction
between its members. The traditional Balaguer supporters (?los de la Casa?),
namely Rafael Bello Andino, Guaroa Liranzo, Rafaela (Lila) Alburquerque, Anibal
P?ez, and Joaqu?n Ricardo, have lent their support to President Hip?lito Mej?a
during the first three years of his government. This backing, says Gil, led to
the election of former Santiago senator Eduardo Estrella as the party?s
presidential candidate, despite claims of fraud by previous PRSC strongman
Jacinto Peynado. President Mej?a himself admitted his supporters went to work
for Estrella. Peynado and Carlos Morales Troncoso lead another faction of the
party. Victor (Ito) Bison?, representing another splinter group, challenged the
bid for the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies sought by Lila Alburquerque,
who had the support of the PRD legislators loyal to President Mej?a. Gil asks,
when talks are to be held to garner the support of the PRSC, who will speak for
the party? He says that the internal conflict within the PRSC should intensify
as the Casa group will not have the funding it received formerly via the Chamber
of Deputies.