Santo Domingo. – A respected ruling party leader and one of its founders on Friday admitted the presence of corruption in the Dominican Government, but affirmed that the crime also affects the three branches of the State.

Euclides Gutiérrez Felix argued that corruption isn’t exclusive to the Dominican Republic, since that crime is also in highly developed countries, and in nations with strong governments, such as Cuba and China, which have had corrupt officials. “In China they execute a corrupt official every week and it’s no longer done in Cuba because of the United States pressure, but corruption also exists.”

The Insurance Superintendent also justified that the PLD party has discarded the teachings of its founder Juan Bosch, affirming that circumstances inside and outside the Dominican Republic have changed.

Gutierrez, a member of the PLD’s Political Committee, affirmed that although he admits that there’s corruption in president Leonel Fernandez’s Administration, denies that it’s the most corrupt government in Dominican history.

He defended Fernandez, affirming that he has been a good president, who has headed a good government which has built many works.

 “There’s corruption in the three branches of the State; in the Government (Executive), in the Legislative, which is the first power of the State, which must audit, it has a little barrel and the senators manage almost two million pesos per month with the help they receives,” he said.

The official criticized the Judicial Branch, affirming that 80 percent of judges are linked to the opposition PRD party, and that Supreme Court president Jorge Subero wasn’t the Justice originally selected for the post, as Fernandez was deceived in the negotiations subsequent to the reforms of 1994.