Following Diario Libre’s coverage of former President Hipolito Mejia’s visit to the government-sponsored La Barquita slum relocation development along the banks of the Ozama River where he praised the project and the initiative, journalists are speculating that the leading member of the PRM could be sending mixed messages. The PRM is the leading opposition party, and although Hipolito Mejia lost the party’s presidential nomination to his former vice presidential candidate, Mejia has been vocal in his support for Abinader.
A report in El Nuevo Diario comments that the former President is also in harmony with the Medina government. The statements in praise of La Nueva Barquita came as the PLD announced the launch of Medina’s presidential campaign for this Sunday, 31 January 2016. The El Nuevo Diario report says that in view of these circumstances, the timing of the visit to the important city public housing project is confusing. El Nuevo Diario also says that Mejia is uncomfortable with the PRM’s decision to not support Rafael Subervi Bonilla as the party’s candidate for mayor of Santo Domingo. Subervi is known for being a strong ally and contemporary of Hipolito Mejia.
La Barquita is coordinated by a board chaired by businessman Jose Miguel Gonzalez Cuadra.
When asked about his statement in favor of the Medina administration, the former President Hipolito Mejia said that he was neither for sale nor had been bought. He added that the high level of debt incurred by the Medina government was “suicide and lack of responsibility.” He said that President Danilo Medina was becoming a second Ulises Heureaux (Lilis) who led the country to bankruptcy when in government from 1881-87.
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=462594
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/ciudad/hipolito-esto-no-es-juego-de-munecas-JE2556812
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/2016/01/28/i204286_hipolito-dice-que-vende-compran-reitera-elogios-nueva-barquita.html
