Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez, the leader of the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) favors the appointment of a fourth candidate of the PRD for mayor of Santo Domingo in the 1998 municipal election. He promises a solution to the impasse over the municipal candidate of the party will be announced on 3 January. Peña Gómez has stated that none of the candidates that participated in the primary of that organization gathered enough votes to merit the nomination, as they did not reach a majority vote, pointing out that present mayor, Rafael Suberví, won with 49% of the vote the candidacy. However, this is the first time a majority of vote is made known as a requisite to obtain the candidacy. A preliminary count showed Luís Mariñez led with 34,000 votes, enough for 33% of the total votes cast. The other two contenders were close by with 30 and 31% of the vote. Peña Gómez said he has met with Rafael Suberví Bonilla and Hipólito Mejía, supporters of Luís Mariñez and Eligio Jáquez in the past primary. He said he has also met with Miguel Vargas, who had the backing of Hatuey de Camps. The impasse has delayed the celebration of PRD primaries in other large cities of the country and other preparations for the May 1998 municipal and congressional elections.
