Next week Tuesday, December 15th is the deadline for nominations for the new PUP Leader. But, the new leader may also be the old leader - and that's because the heads of 11 constituencies have come forward to say they don't want John Briceno or Cordel Hyde; they want Francis Fonseca back as leader of the PUP. Sure, he stepped down and all but walked away five weeks ago, but now some key power brokers in the PUP want him back. The group of constituencies who support a Fonseca comeback met today in Belmopan under the auspices of deputy leader Julius Espat - and we spoke to Espat via telephone shortly after. Here's how he explained what may seem to be a retrograde move:..
Jules Vasquez
"There are those in the party who wish to preserve the status quo and stay the course with Mr. Francis Fonseca. Is this taking shape?"
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"I don't agree on conserving the status quo statement, but yes we believe that Francis Fonseca is the best person at this time to lead us forward."
Jules Vasquez
"Why is that sir?"
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"We believe that he has the maturity necessary, we believe he has the experience necessary, and he has shown us in the last four years what he is made of, and what he can do. He has shown us how humble he is; he has shown us how he can, in difficult times work hard for us, and we believe that with some changes, with some adjustments and a continuation of the focus and the philosophy that we have that we'll be able to form the next government under his leadership."
Jules Vasquez
"Is this the thinking of a minority or is there some critical mass behind this?"
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"We convened a meeting today in Belmopan and 11 constituencies were present, 7 of those are parliamentarians, and so, we believe that it's a good start."
"The entire south was here, a majority of the west was here. We haven't engaged the city as yet, but present was the Honorable Dolores, and Francis was here and two constituencies from the north were here. If you look at the amount of delegates per constituencies, these are the constituencies that command the large delegates."
Jules Vasquez
"Are they prepared to nominate Francis Fonseca on the 15th of December?"
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"Yes we have already signed a document indicating so."
Jules Vasquez
"How important is it, A) to have the pledge of the constituency leaders, which you have. However isn't there a completely and predictable and overwhelming variable, at the end of the day the delegates will decide?"
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"Yes, that's a fair statement to say and we have analyze all of that and we have put in a machinery in place that will deal with that. If we cannot convinced 2,800 or 3,000 people of what is right for the People's United Party, then how can we convinced over 70,000 people to be able to form government? We just believe that the Hon. Francis Fonseca is the best person for the job."
"This in an internal convention. The other two gentlemen are also our colleagues and we have to give them the highest respect as possible. If they believe that they have a good chance, then that is why we have a convention and may the best man win."
Jules Vasquez
"The Francis Fonseca that I saw on the day after the election was a beaten man and in deed after...."
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"No, I disagree with you. He was a humble man."
Jules Vasquez
"I didn't see you there."
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"Where?"
Jules Vasquez
"I am saying I saw him at the press conference."
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"Oh no, I was watching it on your coverage - on the news."
Jules Vasquez
"But perhaps his emotion of losing which you know is devastating emotion."
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"And that's why if you know decisions that are made in politics and decisions that are made in leadership and decisions that are made in business, should not be emotional decisions. So you may be right to a certain extent. When you make an emotional decision, it does not necessarily means it's the best decision. So like I tell you that was a decision he made at the time and we are now asking him to reconsider that decision."
Jules Vasquez
"Is this based on the thinking that well okay, the UDP have won a historic 43 terms, but there is no way they can win 4 and their party leader is retiring and they will have their own leadership struggle, so that its inevitable then that if things just stay on their path, Francis Fonseca will win and will be prime minister almost by default - just by staying in there long enough."
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"If each individual candidate does not work in their constituency, the UDP can win a 4th term and so we have to make sure that that doesn't happen."
Jules Vasquez
"Is it your feeling that on Tuesday we will have 3 persons nominated as leader, or do you think one or both of the other two may fall away sensing that well the numbers are against them with this Francis Fonseca resurgence?"
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"I don't know what they will do, but when you see our slate, if I would be them I would be concerned."
Jules Vasquez
"Now, it would be eminently preferable, both in terms of resources and the wellbeing of the party for there to be an uncontested convention."
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"I don't believe so."
Jules Vasquez
"You don't believe so."
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"I believe that the party needs a convention."
Jules Vasquez
"A contested convention."
Hon. Julius Espat, Deputy Leader - PUP
"I believe so."
Today via text message Fonseca - who announced only five weeks ago that he is stepping down as leader and shortly retiring from politics - told us he is, quote, "obliged to consider (the nomination) given my respect for those involved, but no decision taken." End quote.
No reaction yet from the Cordel Hyde or John Briceno camps, but next week Tuesday is the deadline for nominations, so we'll keep following it closely.
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