Opposition party leaders jockey for control as key gathering nears

Santo Domingo.- The president of Dominican Republic’s opposition party (PRD) on Wednesday reiterated that the organization’s affairs will be discussed at the next meeting of the its National Executive Committee (CEN).

Miguel Vargas’ statement was in response to a request in by group of leaders of the faction headed by former president Hipolito Mejia, to coordinate a meeting to ensure that the next CEN meeting is held with an agreed agenda.

"Comrade President, this country is tired of the PRD, torn with its internal conflicts, assume your historic responsibility to accompany the people in their demands. At this time, our part is to hold a meeting of the CEN with the leadership’s consent," senior leaders Orlando Jorge, Tony Peña, Cesar Cedeño, Eligio Jaquez and Ana Maria Acevedo say in the letter.

For his part, PRD Control Committee president Julio Mariñez said Vargas issued "a deserved response" to the request, calling it “untimely.”

"This process will make it clear that Hipolito’s unbridled ambition isn’t above the PRD’s institutionalism."