Santo Domingo.- The former president Hipolito Mejia stated that the choice of Carolina Mejía as general secretary and José Ignacio Paliza as president of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) was the result of an agreement between President Luis Abinader and him.
“Those who aspired, and those who have always aspired, had to be told that they were wrong. You had to tune in to what people wanted: a woman and a young man. We old people have to be calm,” said Mejía.
Mejía pointed out that a similar agreement occurred in 2024 for the candidacy for Mayor of the National District, allowing Carolina Mejía opt for re-election.
He explained, the numbers were not defined, and the then general secretary of the PRM understood that it should continue.
Carolina Mejía and José Ignacio Paliza.
When asked if the agreements included support from President Abinader for Carolina Mejía’s possible presidential aspirations in 2028, Mejía responded: “No one supports anyone.”
The Beating Resolution
Regarding the proposed resolution announced by José Ignacio Paliza, which seeks to prohibit the formation of presidential projects outside the time established by the PRM regulations, Mejía assured that he was not consulted and that he found out through the press.
“I will say what I think within the partyeither. I’m not stupid to look for problems”, he commented.
Likewise, he warned that he will not allow PRM officials to use their positions to promote presidential aspirations.
“I will not be a cause of conflict under any circumstances. I will say what I have to say in the right place and with the conviction that what I say can benefit, not harm.”
Internal surveys and national leaders
With his characteristic sense of humor, Mejía declared that, although ““he burned” studying statistics, he manages figures from the main surveys until December 5.
According to these data, President Luis Abinader has 43% support, followed by Danilo Medina (12%) and Leonel Fernández (9%).
“I say the numbers as they are, even if they harm me,” he stated on the Hoy Mismo Program.
Regarding the PRM’s internal numbers, he avoided giving details out of respect for his daughter, Carolina Mejía.
However, he ironically said: “There are those who have 2% and feel like they are 60%.”
Opinion on Trump and Maduro
In relation to the inaugurations of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela and Donald Trump in the United States, Mejía described both leaders as opposite extremes.
“One is from the extreme right and the other from the extreme left, but they make the same mistakes: trampling human dignity. “I am against the Maduro dictatorship and Trump’s measures.”
Regarding the future of Venezuela, he pointed out that it is necessary to wait to evaluate the changes.
The Haitian workforce
Regarding the Free Trade Agreement (DR-Cafta) and the elimination of tariffs on rice, Mejía advocated maintaining current conditions to protect the country’s rice growing areas, arguing that they cannot be converted into other crops.
Regarding the Haitian workforce in agriculture, he stated that its replacement is unfeasible, even with mechanization.
“Neither in the United States, nor in Spain, nor here can migrant labor be replaced. Mechanization should not be imposed; It is a reality.”
