Dominican Republic opposition party sets stage for another shootout

Santo Domingo.- The faction of Dominican Republic’s major opposition party (PRD) headed by former president Hipolito Mejía on Sunday approved a plan to hold a convention in February, a decision which sets the stage for another confrontation with the supporters of PRD president Miguel Vargas.

Also approved in the meeting at the Club Los Prados was a timetable leading to the Convention and an agreement on the presidential candidate for the 2016 election.

The factions headed by Mejía and Luis Abinader approved the points, while other senior other leaders delivered speeches attacking the ruling party (PLD) leader and former president Leonel Fernández.

Also approved was PRD organization secretary Geanilda Vasquez’s request of using the police to resume her post in the party headquarters, in addition to and support for Juan TH, Andrés. L. Mateo, Jose Alejandro Ayuso and Jaime Aristy Escuder, who face slander charges from PLD senator Félix Bautista.

In January the two PRD factions staged a violent confrontation at headquarters including gunfire and ransacking of the offices, but no arrests were made.