NewsWhore
05-15-2008, 03:40 PM
Fighting a raspy voice, Miguel Vargas Maldonado and the PRD closed its presidential campaign yesterday during a mass rally in Santo Domingo. Vargas and PRD took part in a four-hour long procession of vehicles before ending up at the stage at the intersections of the Abraham Lincoln, Roberto Pastoriza and Lope de Vega avenues. During his 24-minute speech, Vargas criticized President Leonel Fernandez and promised he would bring change for the Dominican Republic if elected. Vargas argued that Dominicans had the choice to either vote for the model that has led to the deterioration in quality of life, damaged institutional order and affected the nation's productive sectors, or they could vote for change. MVP, as he is known, stated that Dominicans should vote against re-election. Vargas continued his criticisms of Fernandez by saying that there has been no transparency over the Santo Domingo Metro project and this is why the DR overpaid for the train cars by RD$2.2 billion. He also commented on the purchase of eight Tucano airplanes from Brazil without public bidding, and on the PLD base committee payroll scandal, which Vargas said had cost the country RD$20 billion. Vargas said that during his administration the DR would have lower taxes, increased wages and pensions, 600,000 more jobs, and that he would provide more housing for the poor. He promised that more money would be in circulation. He continued by saying that he would focus on lowering the crime rate to bring peace of mind to Dominican mothers. Vargas was accompanied by his wife, who made a habit of touching up her make-up during her husband's speech, and their children. Once the speech was over, supporters made their way down to the Malecon to close the campaign. Eddy Herrera and his merengue band gave a free concert for onlookers.
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