By calling himself the leader of the opposition, Hipolito recognizes election results

SD. Hipolito Mejia did not formally recognize the electoral victory of Danilo Medina, but he resigned himself to the results as he proclaimed himself "the leader of the opposition" and made a call for "unity among all Dominicans" and for the strengthening of the democratic system.

In an atmosphere preceded by a lot of tension, with a wave of rumors regarding possible disturbances, Mejia said that he will work for the approval of the Law on Political Parties and a new electoral legislation.

Al throughout the speech by the man that was the presidential candidate of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), there was an implicit questioning of the election results due to a supposed abusive use of state resources, but at the same time a resignation in the face of an accomplished fact.

Mejia complained about what he called "multiple outrages" by the government forces against many of his followers.

Among the alleged violations, he cited the abusive and indecent use of the resources of the state, in open violation of the Constitution and the laws of the country.

Moreover, Mejia complained of the induced abstention through the massive purchase of voter ID cards (cédulas), as well as the purchase of votes and the intimidation of the population so that they did not get out and vote.

In a like manner, among the violations, Mejia mentioned also the arrests of opposition leaders in violation of their civil and political rights and the abusive control of the media.

"We also saw with indignation the shameless participation by the President of the Republic in the election campaign and in the decisions of the Superior Electoral Tribunal to annul alliances by parties that supported our candidacy. Just like the biased role of the president of the Central Electoral Board in violation of the law and the regulations that control the organization of the electoral process," said the former presidential candidate of the PRD.

He suggested that the events he mentioned constituted a step backwards to the times of the totalitarian governments and that in spite of the fact that the PRD competed in very unfavorable conditions, the opposition party and it allies receive a huge vote that filled him with pride.

He proclaims himself leader of the opposition

In his speech, and in front of dozens of PRD party faithful who filled the Anacaona Room of the Hotel Jaragua, he used the argument that more than two million Dominicans challenged the absolute power (of the state) and deposited their votes in favor of his candidacy, and proclaimed himself "the leader of the opposition," in defense of the nation's interests and the preservation of the peace and tranquility of the Dominican family.

After his self-appointment, he issued a call for unity among all Dominicans in order to work together for the strengthening of democracy, the approval of the Law on Political Parties and a new Electoral Law, because in these legislative proposals "we will be able to guarantee that this will be the last time that the people's will is violated."

The self-appointment will deepen the fight

With the surprising self-proclamation as the leader of the opposition, Mejia adds a new ingredient to the internal struggle that is going on between the sector of the former candidate and the followers of the PRD president, Miguel Vargas Maldonado, who never took part in the campaign efforts of the White Party's candidate, and who always used as his excuse the fact that "he was dedicating himself to institutional aspects of the party."

A few hours after the end of the election process, there were already a lot of top leadership and rank and file groups who were using media outlets to call for the head of Vargas Maldonado and who have called for his expulsion from the party for "high treason."

The president of the Dominican Revolutionary Party, Miguel Vargas Maldonado, stressed last night that this organization is preparing itself to create a firm and responsible opposition to the new administration. The opposition will serve to make effective structural reforms which are urgent and deep, which will contribute to re-launch the economic, social and institutional development of the country.

In a statement released after the former PRD presidential candidate, Hipolito Mejia, resigned himself to accept the results emitted by the Central Electoral Board, Vargas suggested that the PRD will maintain its coherence, and through its congressional bloc and the push from the different municipalities, they will develop and spread most of their political actions.

"We will undertake the effort to hold a broad national consult that will allow us to review all the process which recently took place in order to make methodological and strategic adjustments which will provide for the re-launch of our work programs in order to make the political actions of our party more efficient and successful," says the declaration. Vargas praised the civility shown by the Dominican people in the process.