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Briceno Wanted To Challenge Fonseca
posted (March 11, 2015)

And so the PUP has made it clear it will try – publicly at least to preserve the party status quo under the banner of "party unity" – that much cited, but often elusive intangible. But the real bottom line out of today's meeting is that we are reliably informed – at least one senior executive member did call for Briceno to publicly apologize or face expulsion. That motion, though, only got support from one other executive member. In the end, Briceno was not even made to face any sanction such as suspension – likely because the fragile party cannot sustain it at this time.

Still, though there is deep resentment against him for what he said – as was made clear in Mr Musa's remarks, which you just saw.

And indeed, it's not just what he said – it's more like what he didn't say. In the 65 minute recording Briceno validated just about every suggestion of scandal made against the Musa Administration between 1998 and 2008. He referred to specific corrupt deals such as Galleria Maya and outlined step by step how the public purse was fleeced.

Tonight, we'll listen to more of the secret recording of Briceno's conversation. Although the Opposition Leader insists that they move forward in "unity", about 27 minutes into the 1 hour and 5 minute recording, Briceno makes it very clear that there isn't this unity that the party is trying to project to the public. He says that he has aspirations of taking over as leader, because according to Briceno, there have been mass calls around the country for it. Here's a part of that discussion:

Hon. John Briceno

"Why do you think that throughout the country all the people want me to take over the leadership? Because they see that they are not going anywhere with these people…they see that these people are the problem. I have not decided yet. All along I am not paying it any mind but now I'm thinking about it. I will decide it if I win, I will decide it if I win."

Julian

"But Mr. Johnny I think if something is wrong with an election it can be cured. Because I will tell you something sincerely. I you go again for the leadership there is hope that there is support from the people. But if we will continue with this thing…because I am sure that if Dean Barrow calls the elections we lose again."

Hon. John Briceno

"That's the only reason that I am thinking maybe I should do it. Because another term of UDP… and I will tell you something about Dean Barrow that they saw us in a picture. Dean Barrow and I are not enemies. I am not enemies with Gapi Vega or with any UDP. We are political enemies but personally we are friends. We are a small country to be hating each other. When I was in government I never screwed any UDP I am not like that. I still remember six months after we formed government, Hop Urbina organised an executive meeting and they told me that I am not firing the UDP's and not doing anything. I told him "Hop I did not enter the government to hurt people I entered to help…if there is a PUP and there is a UDP I will help the PUP first and I have no apologies for that. Not because you are UDP I will mess you up, no man. Of course if you are a bad f****r who was messing with us of course I will f*** you."

And so while Briceno embraces what can only be called the Mark King doctrine, we have to stress that he did all this while talking to a once trusted political colleague - someone, who in this case, appears to have been trying to bait Briceno into revealing his plans for a coup against Fonseca. Briceno, who was unaware that he was being recorded, was careful to explain that he would ideally want move on the post of Party Leader after the the next election.

Again, this recording was made just weeks ago – however since then, with the public circulation of what was said in private – the present circumstances would seem to suggest that any Briceno bid for leadership has been fatally wounded.

Later on in the news, we'll have more juicy stuff from the recording.

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