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NewsWhore
05-19-2006, 03:10 PM
The PLD and their allies maintained their lead in the Senate with 20 provinces, followed by the PRD with 7 and the PRSC with 5, as of Bulletin 9 issued on Friday. At the municipal level, the PLD was also leading. There have been many complaints about the slow issue of bulletins by the Central Electoral Board (JCE). Luis Arias, president of the JCE, called for the population to have faith and confidence in the electoral court that he said would deliver the results as soon as possible.


Meanwhile, the accusations and counter-accusations are the order of the day. Yesterday, post-electoral tension grew when the two major political alliances issued contradictory election results and accused each other of fraud and disorderly conduct. The PLD is claiming victory in 25 provinces and has complained about the retention of information at the municipal electoral boards allegedly so the Central Electoral Board (JCE) bulletins show a trend in favor of the PRD, as reported by Diario Libre. According to PLD campaign manager, Francisco Javier (who is also minister of Industry and Commerce), more than 4,000 voting reports have been retained by the municipal boards, which he claims favor a definitive PLD advantage. He also complained that the PRD has embarked on a misinformation campaign proclaiming victory in a series of provinces where the PLD alliance has won.


Later, spokespersons for the PRD/PRSC alliance held a press conference where they described the PLD leaders as "liars" for announcing that they had won in 25 provinces as well as reminding them that this was a violation of the electoral law. PRD President Ramon Alburquerque said that they would not advance their results for the elections so as not to make the same mistake but he assured that the PRD/PRSC alliance would be in control of the Senate after 16 August.


The two alliances are accusing each other of provoking disorder in certain locations by premature proclamation of their candidates' victory. The PRD and PRSC have also complained about the presence of government officials with military personnel in the municipal electoral boards. Milton Ray Guevara, from Samana, Vicente Castillo from Peravia, Juan Rafael Peralta Perez from Santiago Rodriguez and Melania Salvador from Bahoruco, have all reported irregularities in this jurisdictions, including persecution of PRD and PRSC leaders and candidates.


The JCE has been notoriously slow in issuing results, especially in provinces and municipalities where the vote is close. In his Dia por Dia column in El Caribe, political analyst Jose Baez Guerrero warns that there is concern that the JCE may be holding back the results in these areas so as to secure a "negotiated" solution reminiscent of what happened in the 1978 Presidential election. In the aftermath of that election, then President Balaguer negotiated handing over the Presidency in exchange for four additional Senator seats. Baez Guerrero warns that this black chapter in electoral history should not be repeated.


For official updates, see http://www.jce.do

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