The United States’ Embassy in the country has refused to explain the reasons why visas were not granted to two legislators, Fidel Santana, president of the Popular Front Party and Deputy Fidelio Despradel, political secretary of Alianza País. Popular Front and Alianza País are two minor parties in Congress.
The US Embassy refused to give an explanation for the visa decisions, even when pressed by El Nacional reporters.
Since both Santana and Despradel are legislators, they had applied for diplomatic visas as is custom. Despradel said he was invited to the Embassy for an interview where he was asked about his leftist political views. Despradel was a militant leftist, fought against Trujillo, was arrested in 1959 and took part in the 1965 revolution and was a social protagonist during the 12 years of the government of Joaquin Balaguer (1966-1978).
Fidel Santana has already travelled five times to the United States, mainly as the presidential candidate for the Popular Front. He said that each time he travelled there he was subject to a raft of questions on his affiliation to groups on the left.
It is expected that the Chamber of Deputies will approve a resolution asking for an official explanation from the US Embassy on both cases.
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El Nacional
15 February 2017
