By The Star Staff
Juan Dalmau Ramírez, the gubernatorial candidate of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP by its acronym in Spanish) in alliance with the Citizen Victory Movement (MVC in Spanish), returned to the political scene late on Sunday in an activity at the Luis Lloréns Torres residential complex in San Juan, after being absent for nearly two weeks due to the health condition of his wife, attorney Griselle Morales Rodríguez.
Dalmau addressed political issues and expressed his concern about possible irregularities in the electoral process.
“We are going to see a New Progressive Party with attacks like they have made with falsifications and lies,” he said. “I am focused and the most important thing is to speak directly to the country. Those who want change, those who want a clean and honest government, who do not want federal funds stolen, have the alternative of defending the country, which is represented by the Citizen Victory Movement and the Independence Party.”
The candidate expressed concern about recent situations at the State Elections Commission (SEC), especially related to early voting. “I am mainly concerned about the routes for early voting and on that, Victoria Ciudadana and the Independence Party are collaborating to have our officials on the routes regarding what is being done,” he said.
The candidate mentioned complaints about envelopes received at post offices that could indicate irregularities.
“Last night there was a meeting between the commissioners and the chairperson [of the SEC], demanding that an investigation be carried out on some envelopes that were received at two post offices so that these envelopes be halted and investigated, because one person presented several, with a certain number of envelopes, which is contrary to the commission’s protocol,” Dalmau said.
When asked about his return to the campaign, the candidate indicated that he will have to manage his commitments day by day due to his wife’s health.
“Something unexpected happened to us; this past week they found a blood clot in one of her legs and she had to undergo immediate surgery, something that was not contemplated as part of the brain hemorrhage she had suffered,” Dalmau said. “It is something that I have to manage day by day, but I will be wherever I have to be as long as she continues as she is at the moment, which is stable.”
Dalmau stressed the importance of his participation in the activity at Lloréns Torres.
“I was eager to begin …,” he said. “These days she allowed me to participate in this activity and so now day by day I will come according to the responsibilities, what I can integrate into this campaign process, but also taking into account that at some point, during this week, she has another intervention.”
The candidate also called on citizens to participate as polling station officials and monitor the electoral process.
“The price of democracy is eternal vigilance,” Dalmau said. “My call is for everyone who can make themselves available as a polling station official, to watch over the votes at the tables and participate in the routes to the houses, so that the vote is validated … as it was cast.”
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