Ex president blinks in opposition party staredown

Santo Domingo.- The presidential candidate of Dominican Republic’s major opposition party (PRD) yesterday affirmed that he “very positively recognizes and values” the institutional work by the organization’s authorities and its president Miguel Vargas.

Hipólito Mejía’s praise of Vargas comes after months-long standoff, and as recent as Monday affirmed that the PRD rank and file would “run over” the party president, for his alleged refusal to join the campaign.

“These actions have developing positively, altogether, in the last trade union elections, as well as in the work that is carried out, day to day, with the Central Electoral Board and in the organization and staging of the conventional process to select candidates to deputies abroad,” Mejía said in a statement to the media.

The ex chief executive urged the PRD leadership, rank and file and his candidacy’s supporters and not let themselves be confused by strategies of opponents, and to work in rallying activities as they’ve been doing, to win the elections in first balloting.

Moreover PRD General Secretary Orlando Jorge rebuked the deadline issued against Vargas by nine deputies, to join the campaign or takes a leave of absence from his function. “I reject that type of declaration, as much for the way as for the content, and call for the mutual respect all companions, and concentrate ourselves in the main target that to win the elections with our presidential candidate Hipólito Mejía.”