On occasion of the anniversary of the death of former President Joaquin Balaguer, who passed away on 14 July 2002, several political reporters focus on the division that affects the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC).
\nHoy newspaper reporters Ubaldo Guzm?n and Leonora Ramirez point to the fact that the party is now split into two groups: those who are led by Eduardo Estrella and those who follow Jacinto Peynado. The rift resulted from the party?s primaries held on 30 March, by which former Santiago senator and minister of public works Eduardo Estrella was voted the party?s presidential candidate for the 2004 presidential elections. Peynado, Estrella?s prime contender in the primary, has maintained that the procedure was tainted by widespread fraud, to include the involvement of the PPH faction that backs President Hip?lito Mej?a?s aspirations for re-election in 2004. Mej?a himself has admitted the PPH favored the candidacy of Estrella.
\nFormer governor of the Central Bank and member of the central executive board of the party, Guillermo Caram, explains: ?It is the first time that we have had such a deep crisis, and in the absence of Balaguer, who was our mediator par excellence. Now, we have no mediation because Bello Andino [the party president] has sided with one of the factions.?
\nRam?n Rogelio Genao, secretary of the party organization, feels it is just a matter of time for the Peynado supporters to join the Estrella-PRSC presidential campaign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On occasion of the anniversary of the death of former President Joaquin Balaguer, who passed away on 14 July 2002, several political reporters focus on the division that affects the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC). Hoy newspaper reporters Ubaldo Guzm?n and Leonora Ramirez point to the fact that the party is now split into two … <\/p>\n