Several politicians who participated in the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano primaries held throughout the country have protested the results and requested that party leader, former President Joaquín Balaguer have them annulled. Former Vice President Jacinto Peynado, a member of the committee of three upon whom Dr. Balaguer has entrusted the organization of the primaries, said that political secretary Federico Antún Batlle should offer an explanation as to what has happened. Pre-candidates who participated in the National District primary called for the annulment saying that the irregularities included the disappearance of voting boxes, delays in the opening of the polls, delays in the delivery of the ballots, casting of pre-marked ballots, physical aggression of party leaders, changing of results and purchasing of votes. Peynado, the party’s presidential candidate in the 1996 election, said he has received reports that Federico Antún Batlle, Hector Marte, Leonardo Matos Berrido and Aníbal Páez were involved in the electoral fraud in the Santo Domingo primary held on Sunday. The primaries were held to choose the party’s candidates for the congressional and municipal elections scheduled for May 16, 1998. The PRSC must choose its candidates by March 16, 1998. Donald Reid Cabral, spokesman for the party, said that the party will make known the official results of the primary on Friday.
