Pre-candidate Rafael “Fello” Subervi Bonilla, who is keeping his options open, continues to hold hope for party unity in time for the 16 May Presidential election. He told the Listin Diario that if the PRD is to be successful, it must present a united front. He did not exclude any possibilities, but preferred not to commit himself. “Anything can happen in politics,” he declared. The scenarios range from him standing as the single candidate representing the former “Magnificent Seven” to him appearing as Mejia’s running mate. Subervi maintained, however, that he would not align himself with any entity that promoted the party’s division and expressed the view that the ouster of Hatuey Decamps as PRD party president was illegal.
During the Saturday, 18 January PRD convention that validated President Hipolito Mejia as the Presidential candidate for the PRD and replaced Decamps in the role as party president with the close aide of President Mejia, Vicente Sanchez Baret, Subervi was spared and maintains his position as party secretary general. The move is interpreted as leaving doors open to secure his support. Interior & Police Minister Pedro Franco Badia, speaking on a CDN radio interview this morning, explained that the Mejia’s supporters are confident that an agreement can be arrived at with Subervi. According to Franco Badia, the PPH faction of the PRD is now pushing for the approval of the electoral reform bill, the Preferential Presidential Vote, that would enable Subervi, and another three PRD candidates, to run alongside Mejia on 16 May. The bill establishes that while the total votes for same-party candidates will not be transferred to the one receiving the most votes, the votes would be combined to determine who would make it to a second round. Thus the additional candidates could be essential to the PRD defeating the PRSC candidate and going on to a second round along with the leading PLD contender. In the DR, a first round must be won with 50%+1 vote. On the other hand, PLD supporters feel the public’s disapproval of the Mejia administration is strong enough to give them a victory in the first round. Independent polls show the PLD leading in voter preference with more than 60%.