Before the break, you heard our interview with PUP Leader Francis Fonseca - who spoke about his campaign for leader - and his hope that the party can emerge form it united. But, history tells us that if Fonseca loses, that unity is in serious jeopardy. That's because when he lost in 2008 - so did the hopes of the old guard. That caused a fracture in the party which eventually forced John Briceno to walk away from the leadership in 2011. And, with Briceno again challenging Fonseca - who is still supported by the old guard - could the outcome be the same? We asked Fonseca about that:...
Jules Vasquez
"In 2008 we saw this situation where you stayed back, you congratulated Mr. Briceno at the convention, you shook hands with him, you gave a concession speech, but then we saw Mr. Musa walked out. He was one of your key supporters and I don't think he ever made peace with Mr. Briceno's leadership and in fact there was a newspaper one recalls in which hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent to undermine we believe the leadership of Mr. Briceno. Might we see a replay of that where you have acted in a certain way - in a consolatory appeasing way, but then other functionaries of the old guard have this animosity against the man who is not their candidate."
Hon. Francis Fonseca, PUP Leader
"I think there is no factual basis to your question Jules. I don't accept at all that Mr. Musa had any animosity towards John Briceno or that he was somehow behind some newspaper. I mean that's propaganda that we are hearing even now during this campaign. That is simply not true. Yes, I am aware of the newspaper. I saw it once or twice. But certainly Mr. Musa has been one of my closest friends and allies in politics. I have worked with him for many years. If he was behind of any those things I would have known. But certainly in terms of my own position, I want to be very clear, just as I did in 2008, whoever emerges as the leader of the party on January 31st, I am confident that it will be me, but if it's not and the delegates choose another leader, that leader will have my unqualified support."
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