We've already told you about all the rancor that's bubbling up in the PUP after the secret recording of John Briceno emerged and set the political landscape ablaze. And while this issue presently dominates the foreground, in the background the party finds itself at a very serious crossroads: general elections are on the horizon, and the PUP is coming off a very serious and confounding loss at the polls in the municipal elections. So, does the party need an executive shake-up? That's what some are saying - but the party leader and his deputy say that's not an option:..
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"There was a resolution sometime back in which the party leader and other members could not be challenged. Is that standing?"
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition
"Yeah. Absolutely. That was reiterated and supported by all of the members of the parliamentary caucus, the national executive, the standard bearers...so that remains the position."
Reporter
"Not to be revisited?"
Hon. Francis Fonseca
"Not to be revisited."
Jules Vasquez
"Even in view of the fact that the P.U.P. is clearly apparently doing something wrong, in so far as the election results are going in the wrong direction."
Hon. Francis Fonseca
"That's for us to fix and we will fix it."
Jules Vasquez
"But fixing it may require challenging some of these people who are apparently or something is wrong that their work is not having the desired output."
Hon. Francis Fonseca
"Well that's your view."
Jules Vasquez
"But it is the results sir. The results indicate that the desired output is not being achieved, so something must be wrong. It can't be that the U.D.P. is that great."
Hon. Francis Fonseca
"And we will fix it. We will fix what is wrong. You are suggesting that the candidates are the source of the problem and we are saying we will fix what is wrong. We do not believe that the candidates are the source of the problem. We will fix whatever needs to be fixed moving forward."
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"Sir, but normally they say the buck stops at the party leader not only the candidates. But you are saying we are going to fix what is going to happen, but you can't challenge me."
Hon. Francis Fonseca
"Yes, that's the position of my party. Not my position, that is the position of my party. Whether you like it or not, I enjoy the support and the confidence of the people who are standard bearers, representatives, chairpersons of this party - there may be exceptions - but whether you like that or not Mike, that is the position of the People's United Party."
Jules Vasquez
"But apparently you don't enjoy as much support from the supporters of the P.U.P. who didn't come out for municipal election."
Hon. Francis Fonseca
"Well you want to rehash that, put there are many factors that went into that and yes we have suffered a defeat. As you say the pendulum is swinging in the wrong direction. We are going to look at everything in our party and examine everything and fixed what is wrong to make sure that we move forward to the general elections."
Reporter
"How do you feel about the fact that the party leader has stated on the record that the party is moving forward, but he cannot go unchallenged."
Hon. Julius Espat
"In politics you have to be real. We cannot afford to have a challenge right now if we have any chance of winning the next general election."
Reporter
"Do you support that?"
Hon. Julius Espat
"Of course. I was the one that proposed that he would not be challenged."
Jules Vasquez
"And yourself would not be challenged?"
Hon. Julius Espat
"I can go to a convention. That doesn't really bother me."
Jules Vasquez
"But sir, you agree that something is wrong, because the results are going in the wrong direction. The results should show that the UDP is becoming more unpopular."
Hon. Julius Espat
"You have to be practical. Anybody as a citizen of this country, with the way this government is spending money - will vote for a UDP municipal, because they want some benefits to come to them. So, I have no problem with what the people did. That does not reflect in a general election in my opinion and that is my opinion."
Email
Print