Weekly Report - 6 December 2007 (ISSN 1741-7422)

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | Candelier snubbed. Retired General and former police chief Pedro de Jesús Candelier, who is running for the presidency in May 2008 for the Partido Alianza Popular (PAP), has failed in his efforts to forge a coalition with "non-traditional" left-wing parties. Candelier, who declared his candidacy on 28 October, had sought to unify the Partido Comunista del Trabajo, Movimiento Unidad y Cambio and Partido Nueva Alternativa into a "grand national front" to challenge to the dominance of the Partido de la Liberación Dominicana (PLD), for which President Leonel Fernández is seeking re-election, and the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD). Candelier, who told the national daily, Hoy, that if elected he would emulate the model of government set up by Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez , based on social justice, is a divisive figure. During his tenure as police chief his force was blamed for about 500 extrajudicial executions and he was repeatedly accused of resorting to torture. Former president Joaquí­n Balaguer described him succinctly as "a primitive being often given to excesses". The latest poll shows Fernández should win re-election in May with 50% of the vote, followed by Miguel Vargas Maldonado (PRD) on 35% and Amable Aristy Castro, a distant third on 10% for the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano (PRSC).

End of preview - This article contains approximately 326 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options

• Subscribe
• Sign up for a one-time, 14-day trial