The Administrative Minister for the Presidency, Jose Ramon Peralta, has responded to the comments by Persio Maldonado, the president of the Dominican Society of Daily Newspapers who said that the press has been relegated to having only publish what the government wants them to. Maldonado called for President Medina to open up to press questioning.
Peralta noted that there have been Presidents of the country who frequently talked to the press and those who let their good deeds do the talking, such as Danilo Medina. Peralta said bluntly that President Danilo Medina was elected to govern and not to talk to the press.
Peralta said that the President was immersed in running the day-to-day government affairs to improve the lives of Dominicans, as demanded by those citizens who voted for him. He also mentioned that the ministers were more available to the press, but first and foremost their duties were to serve the public.
Peralta made it clear that the government did not restrict freedom of expression and that officials of the Medina administration had never demanded that the press to either publish a story or withhold news from the Dominican people.
Peralta reminded reporters that the President worked day and night for the country, never taking a rest, and his perceived lack of availability to the press was simply a reflection of his personal manner.
José Ramón Peralta: «Danilo Medina fue elegido para gobernar, no para hablar»