The president of the Chamber of Deputies Hector Rafael Peguero Méndez saids that he suggested a third candidate, Hugo Tolentino Dipp as a solution to the political crisis within the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano regarding who will preside the Chamber of Deputies when the new four-year term of the deputies opens on 16 August. Peguero Méndez feels slighted by the PRD, that has expelled him from the party, for opposing what he calls the choice to preside the Chamber of one faction within the party. He said that the party’s official choice, Winston Arnaud has no experience in congressional matters and that traditionally, the Chamber has chosen a deputy with several years of experience. Peguero Méndez has caused a crisis within the party, threatening to divide the PRD’s strength in Congress by posting his candidacy to preside the Chamber of Deputies with the support of the PLD deputies, the PRSC deputies and other dissident PRD members. In addition to Peguero Méndez, six other PRD deputies have been expelled for ignoring party orders. Peguero Méndez said that other possible candidates would have been Rafael Suberví Bonilla, Ivelisse Prats de Pérez, Eligio Jáquez, Pedro Franco Badía, or Sofía Leonor Sánchez Baret, all candidates that have had congressional experience. The PRD is majority in Congress.
