The seven PRD pre-candidates vying for the party’s presidential nomination with the incumbent President Mejia have decided to postpone the nationwide plebiscite that had been scheduled for this Sunday. The new date for the party’s national referendum on presidential re-election is now set for Saturday, 19 October. <\/p>\n
President Mejia praised the move as a step towards a solution to the possible division of the largest political party in the Dominican Republic. The “Big Seven”, as they are popularly known, have also rescheduled a campaign caravan from Thursday to Saturday. The Listin Diario reports that the seven candidates agreed to the new dates at the request of the party’s PPH faction that is promoting the re-election bid of Hipolito Mejia. Pilar Moreno writes that the Big Seven hope to convince the PPH faction that re-election would harm the party and its attempt to remain in power. According to a poll conducted by the seven, 87% of the country is against Mejia’s re-election.<\/p>\n
As headlines in the El Caribe emphasize, the Big Seven is in turn looking for some flexibility from the PPH faction. Hoy newspaper reveals that while the candidates announced their postponement, they also disclosed that they would go to the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to oppose a motion made by the National Farm Front (aligned with the PPH group) which denies the legitimacy of the proposed plebiscite. The political group is headed by Agriculture Minister Eligio Jaquez, who also happens to be one of the leading guiding lights of the PPH program. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The seven PRD pre-candidates vying for the party’s presidential nomination with the incumbent President Mejia have decided to postpone the nationwide plebiscite that had been scheduled for this Sunday. The new date for the party’s national referendum on presidential re-election is now set for Saturday, 19 October. President Mejia praised the move as a step … <\/p>\n