SANTO DOMINGO.- The contacts and formation of teams for the presidential hopefuls for 2012 already began in the political parties, just 10 days after president Leonel Fernandez won the elections, newspaper El Nacional says.

The hastened aspirations and jockeying for position arise as the parties still evaluate their participation two weeks ago, leapfrogging the 2010 congressional and municipal elections.

El Nacional says “it’s a given the aspirations of Miguel Vargas Maldonado, of opposition PRD party; Danilo Medina, of the ruling PLD, and Amable Aristy, of the PRSC continue their  presidential projects,” whereas the incumbent Leonel Fernandez chief executive and former president Hipólito Mejía, are also expected to make their bid, even when it would require a constitutional reform.

Fernandez left open the possibility of seeking a third consecutive term in an interview for CNN En Español.

The former candidates Eduardo Estrella and Guillermo Moreno are also expected to run again in 2012, while on the list of potential new hopefuls figure Luis Rodolfo Abinader, of the PRD; Victor (Ito) Bisono and Federico Antún Batlle, of the PRSC, and Temístocles Montas and Radhamés Segura, of the PLD.