Spanish
Bonao, Monseñor Nouel. The president of the Fuerza del Pueblo and former president of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández, assured in a political act in this province that the government of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) has, “the engine blown.”
The expression, which became the focus of Fernández's speech, was originally used by one of the PRM leaders who were sworn in during the event. According to him, his move to the Fuerza del Pueblo is because the current government "has a blown engine" and no longer represents solutions for the country. The former president took up the phrase and reinforced it publicly, pointing out that in the face of this scenario "there is a new reality that people are beginning to repeat in the streets: the Fuerza del Pueblo is growing and growing every day."
Fernández described the current government as "broken," and stated that this is evident in multiple sectors, especially in the public health system.
He denounced in that sense that the increase in SENASA affiliates during the election year responded to clientelist practices: "They increased the number of insured with the sole purpose of abusively winning the elections," he declared.
The leader of the Fuerza del Pueblo also took the opportunity to defend his government's legacy, particularly in infrastructure and transportation. "We can show a legacy, and no matter how much they have tried to tarnish it, the people always turn to the truth. That was done. When I promised in Congress, on February 27, that the following year, after the accountability report, we were going to inaugurate the Santo Domingo Metro, that was fulfilled," he said.
Fernández emphasized that his government managed to execute works with precision and fulfillment. "When I promised a specific date, it was met. Nobody believed that we could build an underground Metro, something typical of developed countries. And we proved that we could. There is the Metro," he recalled.
He also pointed out that the Santo Domingo Metro was built by Dominican engineers and architects, many of whom were later hired for similar projects in Panama. "They predicted a failure. They said it would be Leonel's Waterloo, that no one would ride the Metro. Today we see in the newspapers that this government is doubling the number of cars because they can't cope. I myself have seen the long lines," he indicated.
During his speech, he also expressed his dismay at the recent tragedy in Juanillo, La Altagracia province, where a boat sank en route to Puerto Rico. "Several people died and 17 were rescued; of those, ten are Haitians and seven are Dominicans. I can understand that Haitians are in a permanent crisis, their situation is very serious. But it hurts me that Dominicans are also risking their lives. This was a model country in Latin America, an example of prosperity. Today we are launching ourselves into the sea along with the Haitians in search of opportunities," he lamented.
In that same act, Fernández announced the beginning of a national political tour. "Today we begin to tour all the provinces and all the municipalities, further strengthening the Fuerza del Pueblo. Let there be no doubt: progress will return for the Dominican people in 2028," he assured.
Oath-takings reinforce the party's structure in Bonao
In the political event held in Bonao, several figures from the PRM and other organizations were sworn in, including engineer Bienvenido Cuevas, former pre-candidate for mayor by the PRM in Bonao; Ramón de la Cruz, current councilor in the municipality; Juan Carlos Veras, professor and former pre-candidate for deputy; Lucrecia Rosario, general secretary of the Mujeres Firmes con Luis Abinader movement; Israel Castro, former leader of the PRM in the municipal district of Juma Bejucal; and Miguel Polanco, former president of zone I of the PRM, among other leaders.
Fernández highlighted that these integrations reinforce the organization's growth, which, according to what he stated, "does not stop."
