NewsWhore
05-21-2009, 04:00 PM
Amidst warnings that it would violate the organization's statutes to offer elective positions in exchange for support, a group of reformist leaders closed ranks with the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) yesterday in a swearing-in ceremony headed by the party's former presidential candidate Miguel Vargas Maldonado. The new PRD members are the former secretary general of the PRSC, Victor Gomez Casanova, deputies Agnes Berenice Contreras from Elias Pina, Remberto Cruz from Moca, Sergio Cedeno from Higuey and Radhames Fermin from Santiago, as well as Senator German Castro from La Altagracia province and community leader Annie Felipe. Even though they were present at the ceremony, deputies Angel Acosta and Carlos Martinez were sworn in as PRD members several months ago. At the event, Vargas Maldonado said that the swearing in of the reformists forms part of the growth registered by the PRD as it looks towards its obligations in the elections for legislative and municipal posts next year and the 2012 presidential elections. He said that the entry of new members strengthens his plan to create a National Agreement for Change.
After welcoming the new PRD members, the secretary general of the party, Orlando Jorge Mera, said that for the party to be able to fulfill its goals, it could not do it alone, "so it is necessary to build agreements, alliances, to open the door of our organization in order to build projects and plans."
PRD president Ramon Alburquerque hailed the arrival of the new party members, but warned that it would be a violation (of party statutes) to promise them a candidacy for an elective post or one within the party in exchange for their support. He said that only the Political Commission and the National Executive Committee could authorize the newly sworn in members for party candidacies.
Meanwhile, former VP Milagros Ortiz Bosch said she felt that Vargas Maldonado should be clear about the conditions that were offered to the group of PRSC leaders who switched parties. She emphasized that if this came about through negotiations, this would block the path of some members of the PRD leadership, "and we would have to see up to what point this would affect the party members and the organization." At the same time as the swearing-in ceremony was taking place, Alburquerque was meeting with former President Hipolito Mejia. Alburquerque defined the meeting as a simple get-together where they talked about the party, the convention process and their candidacies with which Alburquerque hopes to maintain the PRD party presidency.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#10)
After welcoming the new PRD members, the secretary general of the party, Orlando Jorge Mera, said that for the party to be able to fulfill its goals, it could not do it alone, "so it is necessary to build agreements, alliances, to open the door of our organization in order to build projects and plans."
PRD president Ramon Alburquerque hailed the arrival of the new party members, but warned that it would be a violation (of party statutes) to promise them a candidacy for an elective post or one within the party in exchange for their support. He said that only the Political Commission and the National Executive Committee could authorize the newly sworn in members for party candidacies.
Meanwhile, former VP Milagros Ortiz Bosch said she felt that Vargas Maldonado should be clear about the conditions that were offered to the group of PRSC leaders who switched parties. She emphasized that if this came about through negotiations, this would block the path of some members of the PRD leadership, "and we would have to see up to what point this would affect the party members and the organization." At the same time as the swearing-in ceremony was taking place, Alburquerque was meeting with former President Hipolito Mejia. Alburquerque defined the meeting as a simple get-together where they talked about the party, the convention process and their candidacies with which Alburquerque hopes to maintain the PRD party presidency.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#10)