Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTODOMINGO1289
2009-11-13 16:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:
PRD WINS FIRST SKIRMISH IN ADVANCE OF MAY
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UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001289
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV DR
SUBJECT: PRD WINS FIRST SKIRMISH IN ADVANCE OF MAY
CONGRESSIONAL/MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
Sensitive but Unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001289
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV DR
SUBJECT: PRD WINS FIRST SKIRMISH IN ADVANCE OF MAY
CONGRESSIONAL/MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
Sensitive but Unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
1. (U) The first politically significant electoral contest
before the May congressional/municipal elections was won by the
opposition Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD),as its candidate
for the presidency of the Dominican Medical College (CMD) emerged
victorious in balloting held on 11/11. Dr. Senen Caba, who was
firmly backed by the PRD and current CMD President Dr. Waldo Ariel
Suero, triumphed over Dr. Enriquillo Matos, the candidates of the
ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD),by 54 to 46 percent of the
vote.
2. (U) Matos initially vowed to challenge formally the results,
complaining that military doctors and hospital residents were not
permitted to vote, but subsequently acknowledged his defeat.
Caba's supporters countered that Armed Forces physicians are
correctly excluded from balloting as they could be ordered to vote
for a particular candidate, and that the Government sought to
influence hospital residents by giving each one a USD 1,400 bonus
and a personal laptop prior to the election. Matos' followers
also alleged that CMD President Ariel used organization funds and
assets to support Caba's campaign. The Caba faction, in turn,
noted that the Government employed its resources on Matos' behalf,
including the active campaigning by Public Health Ministry Under
Secretaries Lucas Gomez and Roberto Peguero.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: The PRD's victory in the CMD balloting will no
doubt hearten the major opposition party and serve as a warning to
the ruling PLD as both prepare for the May congressional/municipal
elections. Nonetheless, the election should not be viewed as a
harbinger of things to come, as the vote likely was heavily
influenced by internal CMD issues. The College represents public
health service doctors, who, under Ariel's leadership, have been
agitating and striking unsuccessfully for increased salaries and
better working conditions. Matos, who headed the CMD from 2006-08
and did not lead any strike activity during his tenure, promised
to obtain a salary increase, pointing to his close ties with
President Leonel Fernandez and the governing PLD. Most doctors,
however, seemingly had more confidence that Caba, who is identified
with Ariel's confrontational stance, has a better chance of
bringing about the results they seek. END COMMENT.
Lambert
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV DR
SUBJECT: PRD WINS FIRST SKIRMISH IN ADVANCE OF MAY
CONGRESSIONAL/MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
Sensitive but Unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
1. (U) The first politically significant electoral contest
before the May congressional/municipal elections was won by the
opposition Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD),as its candidate
for the presidency of the Dominican Medical College (CMD) emerged
victorious in balloting held on 11/11. Dr. Senen Caba, who was
firmly backed by the PRD and current CMD President Dr. Waldo Ariel
Suero, triumphed over Dr. Enriquillo Matos, the candidates of the
ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD),by 54 to 46 percent of the
vote.
2. (U) Matos initially vowed to challenge formally the results,
complaining that military doctors and hospital residents were not
permitted to vote, but subsequently acknowledged his defeat.
Caba's supporters countered that Armed Forces physicians are
correctly excluded from balloting as they could be ordered to vote
for a particular candidate, and that the Government sought to
influence hospital residents by giving each one a USD 1,400 bonus
and a personal laptop prior to the election. Matos' followers
also alleged that CMD President Ariel used organization funds and
assets to support Caba's campaign. The Caba faction, in turn,
noted that the Government employed its resources on Matos' behalf,
including the active campaigning by Public Health Ministry Under
Secretaries Lucas Gomez and Roberto Peguero.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: The PRD's victory in the CMD balloting will no
doubt hearten the major opposition party and serve as a warning to
the ruling PLD as both prepare for the May congressional/municipal
elections. Nonetheless, the election should not be viewed as a
harbinger of things to come, as the vote likely was heavily
influenced by internal CMD issues. The College represents public
health service doctors, who, under Ariel's leadership, have been
agitating and striking unsuccessfully for increased salaries and
better working conditions. Matos, who headed the CMD from 2006-08
and did not lead any strike activity during his tenure, promised
to obtain a salary increase, pointing to his close ties with
President Leonel Fernandez and the governing PLD. Most doctors,
however, seemingly had more confidence that Caba, who is identified
with Ariel's confrontational stance, has a better chance of
bringing about the results they seek. END COMMENT.
Lambert